Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 869) (1894 03 20)
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ee 2 pe PRM eat => : bes ! x ow _ Class Matter at the New York, oX4 e. Cathy righted 1804, by BEADLE E AND ADAMS, Me arch 2, ASH. Riad ; b+ ct $2. 50. “PUBLISHED WE E KLY BY BE ADLE AND ADAMS. ‘Prise, ay : 1m. a Year. _No. 98 WIL LIAM STREET, NE Ww YORK. 5 centsy 0 : .. ile ~ 4 a es AUN yw aN Wh\) 1. | , NG Sa i Xt Tm TTA ai iC: Sx ee —— = - 4 2 = ws me Mh nie 8 sail i i i: m ‘ As i! is jes
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LS Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker ; OR, The Shake-up of Grip and Gorley. BY CHARLES MORRIS. CHAPTER I. HOW TWO SHARP MEN BLUNDERED, ‘Look at him. Hebas been at that for a week, And it is not boy’s play either.” ‘*T should say not. Carrying bricks isn’t ex- actly a picnic, and work that means nothing is anything butfun, But, whatis it all about?” ‘*The young rascal annoyed me. You know he has been here every week for the last three months asking for a job, so to get rid of him I gent him to moving those bricks,” *¢ The young rascal has plenty of grit. What are you to pay bim?”’ ‘*He is to have anything he finds under the bricks, He is welcome to it all,” § **The young fool! And he has carried those ori bricks around to every corner of the yard on : such a promise as that? Well, I like his pluck.” ; This conversation took place in the private ee office of a business firm on Market street, Phila- s : delphia, The firm title on the sign-board of the F store was ‘Grip & Gorley ” and these were the Pit names of the two gentlemen conversing. i Neither of them were men one would have fallen in love with at sight, They were looking out of the rear window in- to the yard of the building. Here was a full- grown boy, busily engaged in carrying a pile of bricks from one corner of the yard to another. When he stopped for a moment to wipe the per- spiration from his face, it could be seen that he was a rather good-looking lad, with keen eyes, and a generally wide-awake look. _ You'll tire him out, will you?” asked Gorley, with a doubting smile. ‘* If I don't it will be the first time Lever tried and failed,” rejoined Grip, with a grim look, , Beveral hours’ passed. The day was well ad- vanced when the boy entered the office, wiping the sweat from his face, — . ** The job’s dove,” he said stolidly. “ All right,” rejoined Grip, looking from the window. ‘* But somehow I don’t like the looks of the bricks in that corner. Suppose you shift them again,” them?” queried the boy. ‘*That’s the bargain.” “Jest so; and square is square. I reckon we'll settle up afore I dig in again, Here’s my findin’s.” lg eed naan a cae oblong object of poc 8 5 ga nm, show w + meme Bohas OF bank-notes on the inside, _ The two men started in surprise, phage pate it from the boy’s band and looked at it closely. , af “It’s mine,” he cried ———— * You member Grip I lost it three months ago, wi five hundred dollars in it, You found it under the bricks?” - ' ‘*Scueezed down into the mud,” answered the boy. ‘* Reckon that’s how it got lost, held out his hand for the pocketbook, “What do you want?” “A contract’s a contract, I reckon. That’s my under, Hand it over,” “What! give you five hundred dollars for moving a pile of bricks? Not much! Here’s a ten-dollar bill. What do you take mefor boy?” __ “IT did take you for a square man. Looks as if l’'d been took in. See here, Mr. Gorley, I don’t want the whole of that, and I reckon T’ll let you off for a hundred dollars, take a sips less,” “* You won't, eh?” — / ‘No. A bargain’s a bargain, and it’s all mine, ’cording to contract.” “T didn’t make any bargain with you,” re- torted Gorley, thrusting the recovered treasure into his pocket. _, ‘Mr Grip did, and I judge he’s head partner ‘in the firm,” ‘* Now see here, youngster,” rejoined Grip, se- verely. ‘*You’ve got ten dollars, and that’s more than you’ye earned. Keep that and make tracks,” ¥ the kind of stuff Pm made of!” cried the boy disdainfully throwing the money on the table: ‘*T want my hundred, and I don’t leave this place till I git it; that’s flat.” He meant it too. He was not goin his money. | ‘And ’m to Have everything I find under} But I won't ‘* Much Ti ep tt I reckon you don’t know | has ito 00. without | sure! Talk of sending fire to a wa Mr. Grip threatened, cajoled, blus-; Why, tered, vent for the porter to fling him out, and "he'll blow the pair of us sky-high!” letter to fall into the wrong hands. It was tried various means to get rid of him, but stuck worse than a leech. He was put out of the store several times, but he could not be kept | out, and it began to look as if the tiring-out would be on the other side, and that the boy would have too much stay in him for Grip & Gorley. : Several days passed. Day after day the boy returned withreiterated demandsfor his money. He would not be put off with promises, threats, or offers of less than the full amount of his claim, A hundred dollars was his demand, and not a cent less would he accept. An event soon took place that decidedly changed the situation. One afternoon Mr. Gor- ley returned rather hastily from his lunch, with a look of anxiety on his face. ** Back early,” said Grip. ‘Yes, I made a bad blun— But, where’s your sand barr?’ looking around the office. ‘Worn him out, eh? or paid him off?” ‘Got rid of him, anyhow,” returned Grip, with some triumph. ‘‘ We’llsee if that bull pup gets the under hold on me.” ‘¢ How did you manage?” ‘‘T gave bim an order for a hundred dollars on Burton & Jones, New York. The little fool took it all in good faith. If he goes to York, which he’s got pluck enough to do, I’d like to be at hand pet see Burton kick bim out of doors. Anything from us to old Burton will be like fire to a sky-rocket,” and Mr. Grip laughed un- pleasantly, \, ‘“* Ha! ha!” echoed Gorley, ‘' that’s not so bad. Burton hates us worse than he does poison. But, speaking of him—do you know I’ve done a confoundedly stupid trick? That’s what brought me back’so early.” : ‘¢ It wouldn’t be your first.” muttered Grip. ‘** My letter to JenkinsI flung in the waste- basket, and put this ridiculous scrawl into the envelope to send to Jenkins. It was laying on the table beside my letter.” He pulled out a sheet of paper that was writ- ten over in a school-boy’s hand. “Its some of your apprentice’s work, He’s been amusing himself while waiting for his money. Counting up how much he’d make if he carried bricks fcr a year, holidays off.” That would depend on how he made his col- lections,” laughed Grip. : “ Anyhow, I discovered my mistake and bur- riéd back, for fearsomebody might be meddlin in the waste-basket. It would not pay for tha See REE EE ee ee a = Se ee eR ES ee written for Jenkinsonly.” Ashe spoke, he drew the waste-basket from under the desk, and looked into it. His face grew suddenly pale as he re pep hand down and drew up the half of a sheet of paper, which was torn straight across from ae to bottom. - © What's this?” he yelled. ‘‘ Who’s been here?” Grip looked at him, and his face became al- most the color of whitewash. — “ Why, thunder and lightning!” he screamed, “vou don't mean to say it’s true? You're not lo ? gs Toking! Do I often joke” “Then there’s the very deuce to athe It l'a thought you could be such a fool I'd looked out better what I was doing.” ‘Doing? What bave you done?” Mr. Grip did not answer. He was whiter than ever, and shaking like a leaf. He hastily opened the door of the office and called out into the counting-room: “ Joe.” ' The man called came hastily at the excited voice. “Do you know where that boy lives? The one who has been piling bricks?” ‘No, sir. Never saw him anywhere but here, ‘¢ Find out in the store if anybody knows,” Joe turned on his heel and walked away, while Mr. Grip closed the door. His partner caught him fiercely b His pale face had grown red, an Grip as he hissed: 7 ‘© What have you done? Tell me this instant, or ’1l—” \ I done? What you the arm. he shook ** What have made me,” he rejoined, jerking his arm from Gorley’s fin- gh B **I took that sheet of ‘ waste’ paper out of the basket, tore it in halfs and wrote the or- der for Burton on the half torn off. The boy itnow.” = The torn sheet dropped from Gorley’s fingers and fluttered to the floor. ; ‘Oh Lord!” he gasped, as he fell back into a chair, ‘You've gone and done it this time, : . sky-rocket! if that letter gets into Barton’s hands, he | pve You've only got yourself to blame,” snarled ri ‘down body!” Now don’t come that, Grip. That’s too thin. We're a blessed pair of boobies, that’s the whole story. But you're the biggest. To think of the‘ sharpest man in America’ sending off a paper without looking at it!” ‘“Who would expect to find anything but trasb in a waste-basket:? It’s your confounded wool gathering that has done it all.” «See here, Grip, I suppose it’s no use in pot, calling kettle black. (’m willing to give in that we've both played the fool, if you'll agree,” ‘Jt looks confoundedly like it,” grumbled Mr, Grip, with a sour expression on his face. ‘‘Tt’s done; and hard words won’t butter parsnips, We must get to work, That boy has got to be stopped.” ‘* After all, it may not beso bad. There’s no danger of his going to New York. How is he going to get there without money?” Mr. Gorley stooped and picked up the half- sheet as he spoke. ‘‘ Not if if was any common boy. But that young imp! he’d get to China if he started for it. He’s got pluck enough to carry him to the mon,” : ‘“‘ It’s lucky you tore the paper down th it. ‘‘If Burton does get it, it will be only half- lines, There’s not enough to put him on the track, And our signature’s on this half.” Grip snatched the paper and cast hisLeye over it eagetly. He then shook his head in a doubt- ful manner, ‘ ‘Tt will make him suspect.” . ‘¢ But it is not evidence. Andi ‘he suspects now.” ‘* We can’t take any risks. We must have it back,” cried Grip, decidedly. ‘‘That boy has got to be stopped and made to hand over, if we have to kill him!” ; ‘“Or pay him,” suggested Gorlcy, with a ghost of a smile, Grip, in reply, thrust the torn sheet deep into the waste-basket, and stamped his foot fiercely upon it. ‘* Blast it!” he hissed. ‘‘ We must throw all this waste into the grate and burn it up. I don’t know what else you have put there.” : ** Nothing else of that sort,” rejoined Gorley, “ And this piece has no harm in it. All the poison is in the other.” At this moment the door of the office opened, and the man who had been sent out to inquir returned, f ‘s Nobody knows,” he re d. ‘* Harley thinks he has seen the boy about Twentieth and Wood streets, but is not sure.” “Twentieth and Wood? Go out there at once, Joe, and see if you can find any trace of him. Ask the boys and inquire at the houses for several squares around,” “ What name?” asked Joe. ‘¢ Ned Norman; that’s the name he givens ie " ie gts ‘ey i Pes his headquarters, foe, as he le e office. ; ani Don't give up easy,” cried Grip, after him, “T want that boy bad.” ‘¢What next?’ queried Gorley. ‘The Directory. And we'd better both try the stores in the neighborhood. The little land leech has been pestering other people as well as us. Quick, too; delays are dangerous.” | They both started out on this erranG, Mr, Grip forgetting for the moment his intention te burn the contents of the basket. In fact, he was not particularly anxious about the half sheet left; the dangerous half was that he had given to Ned Norman. rei If the boy wanted revenge for the treatment he had received from the firm of Grip & Gorley, hehadit. If an earthquake had shaken their store, igs Peis not have been in a greater fluster. And this grew greater instead of less when all their efforts proved failures, The Normans given in the Directory were looked up; but the boy. did nct belong to any of them. Somie of the maemoring. merchants had seen enough—too much, in fact—of Ned, but none knew his place of residence. The day was used up in thisinguiry. It was the next morning when they reappeared at the office. Joe had not yet returned to report. “What next?” asked Gorley. ‘‘Nothing,” answered Grip, “‘ till we see Joe. Except to burn those papers.” ; “What the deuce—” he began; then hurried to the door and shouted, A clerk hastily responded. was too full of business for any delay, t rag middle,” rejoined Gorley, who was looking at. “Come here, some- “Mr. Grip’s voice ae Sa -
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S Wed “What became of the wastein that basket?’ he asked sternly. ** f don’s know, sir, but I think the porter sold alithe waste paper in the store last night. The old paper-man comes round Wednesdays, I be- lieve.” ** Ask him.” Tne clerk went out, and quickly came back wito the word: *{ was right. He sold it.” **Oonfound him! Why— Butnomatter; it’s all right. That will do, Mr. Brown,” fhe young man withdrew, and took care, be- ore going back to his desk, to advise the porter that he was in hot water for selling waste with- out permission, ‘‘ Something in the basket, I suppose, they did not want to lose.” ‘Ts all right, [fancy,” inferred Grip. ‘* The papér-mill is as good asthe grate, Like dead mén, neither tell any tales.” Allthis was far fromsure. When one sets a ball in motion there is no, knowing how far it will roll, Something happened which Messrs. Grip & Gorley could not heve conjectured. Their porter was well aware of the temper of his employers, He had been called to account for trifles more thanonce. Their‘ very well” did not end a matter always. He might yet “catch fits” about the contents of that basket, and thought it best to be on the safe side. So that night he sought the den of the old paper-dealer, looked through his gatherings for the day, and was soon able to sort from them the contents of his employers’ waste-basket. * Put this stuff away till your next round, he said tothe man. ‘“ It may be asked for, and I want to know it is safe.” “Allright, Ill take care of it.” It was mid-morning when Joe made his ap- pearance at the store, He at once went back to the private office, where sat his employers talk- ing with one another; with a blue look on their ‘faces. Mr. Grip sprung up on seeing Joe. ‘* What luck?” he asked, ** ve nailed him.” ‘* You have? Good!” ‘* His house, I mean. The boy lives with his grandfather, out Callowhill street. Didn’t find ‘aim, though. He’s gone,” ‘*Gone! Where?” **To New York.” The merchants looked at one another, ** How? By train?” ‘‘No. His grandfather tried to keep him back, but ropes wouldn’t hold him, He’s a regular young steam-engine when he gets start- ed. He had no money, so hestruck out to walk, He'll fetch New York, money or no, The boy that piled them bricks would fetch Hong Kong, af he started for it.” Mr. Grip tapped the floor with his foot, ‘* When did he start?” * This pole uy “ He'll steal rides to get there. He must be ors Joe, would you like a trip to New York?” “* Yes, sir,” ‘Get ready, then. I want you to go over with me in the two-o’clock Express,” CHAPTER III, A FOX IN A TRAP, Messrs, Grip & GORLEY were correct in sup- sing that Ned Norman would reach New Fork. Wide-awake as the boy was in: some things, he was as innocent as a child in others, and really supposed that the paper given him was gi for fifty dollars. Fifty dollars was like a fortune to him, and he would have gone to New York on hands and knees for it. It was about noon of the succeeding day when he landed in the great city beyond the Hudson River. He had walked part of the way, and traveled part of the way on freight- trains, On reaching Jersey City, he had Just money enough in his pocket to carry him across the ferry. Landing in New York he gazed in surprise on the bustle and rush of business in the streets near tbe ferry, and the great rows of tall busi- ness houses leading up into the city. Ere he had gone far he started in alarm as, with whirr al a train shot past in the air over his head. “Whew! This beats Philadelphy,” he mut- tered. ‘‘ There’s ncise enough here to fit out two cities, and leave some over to spare. That's the Elevated, is it? Whew! but it’s a stunner.” But Ned was not the boy to dally, He had business to do, It would be time enough after- ward to admire the city. A short distance further and he found himself in the roar and turmoil of Broadway, the flow- ing river of wagons, stages, trucks and people almost taking his breath away. His head swam fora moment until he was able to take in the situation. ‘*Market street ain’t bad,” he said, ‘* but Broadway takes the cake, This ain’t biz, though. Where does Burton & Jones hang out their shingle? That’s the p’int jist now.” It did not take theshrewd boy long to find out, He had not been given the address, but soon learned where he could see a Directory, and auickly found there the name of ‘‘ Burton & Jones, wholesale linens and ducks,” with street and number. Armed with this information, it did not take much inquiry to put him on the right track, He had not been more than an hour in New York before he found himself in a narrow street, with lines of tall, stone-fronted warehouses on each side, which he was following with open eyes for the number given in the Directory. ‘* One, fifty-eight; must be near it now,” he muttered. ‘*I thought Philadelfy did business enough for the country, but there’s a little done here, too, I s’pose York picks up our leavin’s, One, sixty-six,” “Why, hallo, youngster! what in the world are you doing here?” Ned looked up hastily at the sound of a voice that seemed familiar to him. To his surprise he saw a face which he well knew. It was one of the men in Grip & Gorley’s store! ‘* Hallo, Joe!” he returned, glad to see a famil- iar face. ‘‘ What’s up? Didn’t expect to run across you.” ** And I thought you werepiling bricks. What brings you here?” “Biz, that’s’ what. Got a contract. Dm lookin’ fer Burton & Jones’s store. Ought to be somewhere Jong here,” ‘* What makes you think that?” ‘¢ Why, I looked it up in a Directory.” ‘* Nonsense, boy; that’s a year old! People move here about every six months. Those folks kept here long ago. I happen to know where they are now, and you're two miles away.” ‘“Ts that so? Can you tell me where to find them?” ‘¢T can show you; that wili be better. I am going that way. Come along, young chap; | want to have a talk with you. Without a thought of distrust, Ned accom- panied his new friend, chatting eagerly as he Util about his adventures in getting to New ork, ** And what do you want here?” This question froze Ned up, He had early been taught not to talk about business. ‘*T want to see Burton & Jones,” he an- swered, ‘Got some busivess with them,” ‘* Very likely,” answered Joe, dryly. ‘“* You wouldn’t walk to New York without, But I judge you must be hungry, from what you say about your rations.” “fm hollow enough to hold a sheep,” re- joined ‘Ned, with an expressive look. ‘ Trav- elin’ does make a feller hungry.” ‘*Tm a little that way, too. We'll go get something to eat, and you can see Burton & Jones afterward.” ‘*T’'d sooner see ’em first.” ‘*Nonsense! They’re not going to run away. You can’t find them without me, and I’m going to lunch before I do anything else,” : Business before pleasure was Ned’s idea. But he could not belp himself, and he was hungry enough to make Joe’s offer very tempting. So he trotted on willingly beside him. Little did he dream that his seeming friend had been set as a trap to catch him, and that he was walking into the net of an unprincipled por rea an Winding through some narrow streets, Joe at length turned into one that was little better than a court, and entered a tall, dingy house, with a drinking saloon sign in front. Walking into the bar-room, he said some words in a low tone to the bartender, while Ned stood in the rear. ‘* He said he'd be back in an hour, gone ’most that time now.” “Very well; send us up something to eat; plenty, for we’re both hungry.” Leaving the room, Joe beckoned to Ned, and led the way up two flights of stairs to a roomon the third floor, ‘Grub will,be up in a minute,” he said, ‘‘Tt’s a low place down-stairs, so 1 thought we'd take our dinner private.” Ned looked around him. It was a y- looking room, with chairs and table, and a bed in one corner. ** Are you stayin’ here?” “ Yes, for a day or two,” Ere many more words could be said a man He’s been Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. ee came up with their dinner on a tray. It was coarse but abundant. Ned had never been used to luxuries, and was hungry enough to make a royal bauquet on bacon and beans, sohepinnuged in heartily, giving his companion trouble enough to keep up with him. ‘*Jerusalem! but tnat corned beet’s good, And them pertaters is jist prime, I never eat anything that went dowa better,” “Go ahead: don’t leave any; it’s all got to be paid for.” Ned obeyed orders, and emptied the platters, “There! I reckon I won't eat any more,” he said, looking at the bare dishes, ‘*T wouldn’t either, unless you would like to top off on the table.” Ned laughed heartily at this wooden joke. He had eaten himself into the best of humors. ‘* Hadn’t we better toddle on now?” ‘“ Not just yet. It’s too soon after tunch,” Joe seemed listening. At that moment there came the sound of steps on the stairs, and his eyes lighted up with satisfaction, The next in- stant the door opened, and a man entered the room. Ned’s eves opened wide with surprise as he saw him. It was Mr. Grip! ‘* Hallo!” cried the latter, as if in the greatest astonishment, ‘‘You here, boy! Where did you drop down from? I thought. you were in Philadelphia,” ‘*T picked him up in William street,” said Joe, ‘and brought him here for lunch,” ‘* Why, you sent me to New York, yourself,” rejoined Ned, ‘ [was to come here and call on Burton & Jones.” Mr, Grip looked at him with an aspect of great surprise. Then he burst into a laugh. ‘“‘ Mercy!” he cried, * ro did not take that in earnest? That paper? Why, it was only a sell, boy! I gave it to you to get rid of you fora day or two,” “You did!” exclaimed Ned, opening his eyes. But, he was getting his eyes open in another fashion. Was his meeting with these two men quite by chance? Maybe Mr. Grip wanted his flfty-do ar order back. ‘And you came all the way over to New York with that peer! Ha! ha! that’s too good! It’s too bad, rather. Why, boy, the order isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” , “Then what made you give it to me?” ‘* To get rid of your bother,” ‘ Anyhow, I came to New York to Barton & Jones, and I reckon I will.’ ‘* Tt’s too bad to bring yon here, that’s a fact. You ought to have something for your troublje, Give me the Bg back and I'll give you lee dollars; that will pay you for your ourney. Ned looked at’ him closely. He had offered only ten dollars before, for finding the roll of bills. Now he agreed to pay twenty-five for what he called a piece of worthless paper. That was not like Mr. Grip, Ned grew more suspicious every moment, If Grip was trying to make a fool of him, be would let him see that be was not the stuff thoy make © fools of. ‘« Twenty-five?” he queried, ‘* Yes,” assured Mr. Grip, taking out his cketbook, and counting out the money in new ank-notes on the table, ‘““ITain’t enough,” decided Ned, ‘‘I reckon somehow that paper’s worth a hundred dollars. I ain’t sellin’ below price. I am a paper negoti- ator now, ye see!” ‘Why, you unconscionable young miser! I am offering you tenfold its value,” ‘*T calculate not. Grip & Gorleyare business men, and business men don’t go back on their word,” ‘*Ha! ha!” laughed Mr. Grip, as if highly amused, ‘*That’s a settler, You're learn fF boy. Well, lay the paper down there, and I i make my word good with another twenty-five,” ‘*T reckon not,” answered the boy. ‘“‘ Why not? You don’t want a fortune for a scrap of paper?” ‘‘You’re two to one, This is a lonely room, away up on the third floor. Come down-stairs where there's folks about, and’then [ll deal. I prefer the street for such negotiations,” A cry of anger that sounded like a snarl, came from Gtip’s thin lips. ‘You blasted young villain!’ he exclaimed. ‘“Do you want to call me a thief? Shut the door, Joe! We will search the hound. He's got to give up that paper, if I have to skin m,.” He seized Ned as he spoke. Joe shut the door and came to his assistance. The boy fought bravely, but he could do nothing in the arms of two strong men. After a minute’s struggle, Joe got a firm give it to
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4 Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. hold on his wrists and dragged them behind him. He drew Ned down over his knee and held him firmly, while Grip began to search him with the skill of a detective, Every pocket was examined. His shoes and stockings were taken off and searched, Every possible hiding-place in his clothes was investi- ier but no trace of the paper was found. ed had ceased to struggle after the first min- ute, and submitted quietly to the search, After five minutes’ work Mr. Grip gave it up. He looked the boy in the face savagely. “What have you done with that paper?” he hissed, ‘*That paper was worth one hundred dollars; its price now is two hundred, and before wit- nesses,” announced Ned, sturdily. ‘‘It has gone up ‘a value,” ‘* By tua fiends! I'll hang you or drown you like a rat, if you don’t hand it over! You can have five minutes to decide. If you are not ready to give it up in that time I'll make an end of you.” e walked to the door of the room, followed by Joe, who had released bis prisoner. ** You can have it for two hundred, and nota cent less,” the negotiator repeated, ‘*You are in my power, boy, and it will be worse for you if you don’t yield. You can’t es- cape from thisroom, I'll be back in fiveminutes with & rope, and yonder’s the hook you'll hang on. He pointed to a strong hook in the ceiling, as he closed and locked the door. Ned picked up his cap, which had fallen and been kicked across the room in the struggle. He seated himself on the bed to think, “t's squally, but a good deal can be done in five minutes,” he said, looking around, BY hac he did in those five minutes time must Exactly five minutes afterward the door was unlocked and the two men reappeared. They looked round the room in surprise. No trace of their prisoner was visible. But the bedstead was pushed up close to the window, with the corner of a sheet tied to one of its posts, and the sheet hanging out the open window. The negotiator had flown! * CHAPTER IV. FROM THE PAN INTO THE FIRE, THE two men looked at oneanother with vary- ing expressions. There was surprise in Joe's face, there was dismay in that of the merchant. He knew much better than his man what that lost paper meant, But there was no time to spend in gazing at each other’s face, Every second counted. With a violent oath, Grip sprung to the window and looked out. The end of the sheet reached en to an open window on the second floor ow, ** He has climbed down and jum into that window!” yelled the baffled villain, ‘ There’s not a second to lose. Follow ma, Joe,” Out of the room he plunged and dashed down the stairs to the room beneath, closely followed by his confederate, The door of the room stood wide open, A single glance into it showed that it was empty. ** To the street!” cried Grip. ‘* Wemusthead him off. It will be worth a hundred dollars to you, Joe, if you stop him getting to Burton’s,” Down the second flight of stairs they plunged and into the street, much to the surprise of the barkeeper, who saw them dash madly past the door of his den, If they had thought to stop and ask him, he could have told them that the boy they were after had not gone out that way. But the were too full of the necessity of haste to thin of this, To their fancy the fugitive was in the street, with a minute or two the start, Yet they were seriously mistaken, The con- spirators had overreached themselves, At that instant, while they were darting in different directions down the street in pursuit, Ned Nor- man was enjoying a lively dance in the middle of the room they had just left. How came he there? That can be told in very few words. Their footsteps had hardly ceased sounding on the stairs before, from under the: low bedstead which had been pushed against the window, a slender form crawled, It was the ap merag eege de Ned sprung into the middle of the room, and began the dance of triumph of which we have + tl though he could hardly stand on his feet or laughter. “Tf Il ain't come it over old Grip there’s no use talkin’,” he said, to himself. ‘I tell you, it was cute to play that little trick with the sheet, ! and make him think I’d mosey’d out 0’ the win- | der, Maybe I ain’t as smart as him, but I’ve done him up brown, He can’t have the paper now for less than a hundred, nary time:;’ He stopped suddenly to listen. Somie sounds had come to his ears. ‘*T reckon these ain’t the cosiest quarters in the world,” he said. ‘‘ Better git, ‘fore they come shootin’ back.” Pulling his hat down over his eyes, he darted from the room, whose door the hasty pursuers had left wide open. Reaching the narrow entry, he looked and lis- tened. No one was in sight, and no suspicious sounds came from below. He ran lightly to the head of the stairs, and descended them with a rapid step. e paused again to look and listen. The coast was still clear, Down the next flight he went more cautiously to the first floor. He was with- in a few steps of the street; the front door open- ed invitingly before him; but to reach it he must pew the door of the drinking-saloon, and for all he knew his foes might be lying in am- bush there. The boy had grown cautious. He had made up his mind to put that paper in the hands of Burton & Jones, and woen Ned’s mind was made up it was made up hard. He was taking no chances, ‘““T never seen a house yet without a back door,” he muttered, ‘‘and I reckon the back door’s my right bower jist bout now.” Turning, he followed the passage cautiously backward, listening at every step. He soon found himself in a kitchen with no one in it, and with a door opening into a narrow yard. From this a gate led into an moe bay Ned was about laying his hand on the latch of the gate, when he was startled by a voice hailing him from above. ‘* What are you doing there, boy?” He looked up. A hard-faced woman was look- ie We of an upper window. glance convinced the quick-witted boy that he was safe. He could bea block away before that woman got down-stairs. ‘Pm jist lookin’ ’round,” he answered, im- pudently. ‘‘ Got a notion to buy this place, and want to see if it’ll suit my notions,” “You raseal! You've been stealing. Wait there till I get down, or it will be worse for you.’ ' ‘¢ Yes, I'll wait. I wouldn’t think o’ not wait- in’, That wouldn’t be perlite.” The woman had left the window, and was evi- dently making haste down-stairs. Ned the latch and gave a quick jerk to the gate. It failed to open, and he now saw what he had failed to votice~that it was fastened with a padlock, Here was an awkward complication. If he attempted to rush back through the house, he was in danger of being caught. What was to be done? He looked at the fence. It was seven feet high. But in the middle of the yard stood an empty barrel, It was the work of an instant to roll this to the fence, turn it upside down, and leap upon its bottom, The bottom gave way beneath bis feet, but he bad caught the top of the fence with both hands just in time to save himself from going down into the barrel, A spring, a wriggle, a jerk or two and he was waist high with the fence-top. Another strong lift and he had one leg over, He threw the other over and fixed himself in a comfortable seat, just as the woman burst in a fury from the kitchen door, ‘¢ You young thief and vagabond!” she yelled, ‘Come back this minute and give up what you've stole, or I'll hand you over to the lice! ‘*You didn’t never try to catch acoon up a tree, ma’am?” asked Ned,impudently, ‘* You've got to coax ’em down, you know. Can’t fetch em down with hard words.” 4 ** You impudent little villain! Come down, I say!” % I'd like to’blige you, ma’am, but I’ve got yey epterctys business. VUll stop on my way back if that’ll do jist as well.” As he spoke he lowered himself down the fence, holding on with his hands, This made *he woman more aDeTy than ever, She fairly frothed at the mouth As she yelled: “Stop thief! stop thief!’and ran back into the kitchen for the key of the Rate. ‘**T don’t know but what it’s about time 'to slide,” said Ned to himself. ‘‘ Things are gettin’ uallier here every minute.” lie oosing his hold he let himself drop to the ground. He found ‘himself in a ‘sortof ‘blind alley, running in the rear of a row of houses, and opening into a street at a little distance. Down this he darted, for he could hear the woman running to the gate, stillshouting ‘‘ Stop thief!” wita x1] the power of her lungs. He reached the street just as he heard her fling the gate open behind him, It was one of the narrow streets of that locality, and was well filled with people. Ned's first impulse was to run, but second thougbts told him that if he did the woman might raise the ‘t‘bue and cry” on his track, Stepping into the tide of passers-by, he began to: walk ouward slowly and carelessly, trusting, that his pursuer would no} recognize him, His plan proved a wise one. She ran furious- ly to the opening of the alley, looked eagerly up avd down the street for the form of a running boy, and seeing none stood irresolute, paying no: heed to the boy who was walking quietly onward. - not ten feet from her. Ned took good care not to look round, buti walked steadily on until hereached an re corner, round which he turned into a neighbor- ing street, ‘IT reckon I’ve sold the old woman,” he said. “But my, wouldn’t she jerked meif she’d nab- bed me! I never saw nobody b’ile over worse,” Ned walked on. He was safely out of the den into which he had been entrapped, had thrown his pursuers off his track, and had the coast clear before him once more, He naturally felt. jubilant, ‘*T got my dinner out of ’em, and it’s worth a. little row for a good dinner,” he soliloquized, ‘*There’s somethin’ mighty queer "bout that paper that old G ip didn’t find,” he continued, with a laugh. ‘‘He wants it back ag’in the worst way, but he can’t have it nary time for less than a cool hundred, and ’fore witnesses, I ain’t trustin’ him nohow. He says he tried to: sell me withit. It looks somehow ’s if he’d sold himself, I’ve come over here to giveit to Bur- ton and Jones, and I’m goin’ to do it.” He set his teeth in a way that showed he meant business. But where was he to find Burton & Jones? Joe said they had moved. Had they? Was not that part of the game? If they had, how was he to findthem? Why, by asking at their old lace. . Ned had made up his mind what to do. The next thing was todoit. Just where he was, or what direction he was to take, he had no idea. But ten minutes’ walk his del him out into a wider street. A little inquiry now taught him the way to William street, and before long he was once more ino the vicinity of the store he: was in search of. He was walking along carelessly, laughing to: himself with some pe gag mek a he yf with a start of surprise. Something ahead had caught his eye. He slipped into a doorway and looked again. Yes, there could be no doubt of it; that must be: Mr. Grip’s back, And now the person Ned was watching turned and showed him unmistakably Mr. Grip’s face. Thoughts shot quickly through Ned’s fertile: brain. His foe, having lost him in the den into which he had been trapped, had now put him- self on guard over Burton & Jones’s store, He. was walking slowly up and down, Ned waited till he had turned again, and then hurried away in an opposite direction. In a few minutes more he had reached William street atthe other end of the block containing the warehouse of Burton & Jones, He was more cautious now. He had nailed Grip, but where was Joe? He squeezed himself closely against the wall of the corner building and looked cautiously round. One look 2s enough. Tbere was Joe, sure enough, on guurd over the other end of tae block, Ned drew back, and fell into a deep study, His foes, having lost him, had chosen the best way to find him again, and had placed them- selves at both ends of the block through which he would have to pass to reach the place he epaast which now he was sure must be in that block, But what could they do? It was the open street, with plenty of people about. He could not be dealt with there as he could in a locked room in the third story of a house. He felt for . the moment strongly inclined to venture, but in the end gave it up as too risky. Grip was an old bird, and might have some game to stop him, Ned turned away. He had made up his mind on the instant to give it up for thatday. He would come early the next day, and see if the ‘track was clear. ‘ Where ‘he spent that night*we are not able to: is . _————$ oe oe ee ; ‘ eee Rte ae SS ——— = : tag
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en* “sa . par Patioor life, so a snooze on a wharf or under Ss The weather was warm and he was used a box was no hardship to him, Business had only fairly begun when he again approached the contested locality. He came up with great care and looked through the street. either of bis foes were visible. With a chuckle of triumph the boy darted forward, looking eagerly for the number of the store he sought. He was suddenly checked in his career, A man sprung from a doorway and clutched mim vigorously by the arm. There looked down on him the sneering, triumphant face of Mr. Grip. ** So T have found you at last, you young run- away!” he exclaimed. ‘You will come with me now to your poor mother, whose heart you have nearly broken.” The a pane struggled. Some of the passers- by halted and looked on with surprise, **He is my son, who ran away from home a week ago,” explained Mr. Grip. ‘I have been hunting him high and low.” “Tt isn’t so!” cried Ned, indignantly. ‘‘I am not his son, nor no relation to him.” ‘*That won't do,” said another voice. ‘‘ I can vouch for Mr, Nelson that you are his son.” It ‘was Joe who spoke, He bad suddenly appear- Will some one call a policeman?” asked Grip, as Ned continued to struggle. ‘I can prove my claim, and wish to take my boy home to his distracted mother,” Ned ceased to struggle. The game of his cap- tor was a well-laid one. [fhe played it well it was sure of success, The boy was sharp enough to recognize that he was in a scrape. ‘All right, I will go with you,” he said. ** And if you get that paper I hope it willdo you good,” he thought, CHAPTER YV, THE CUCUMBERS DID IT. Mr. Gries scheme had been well chosen’* Ned was wise enjugh to perceive that his cap- tor held the winning hand, and that he could gain nothing by resistance, He judged it best to go along quietly, andto trust to chance for an escape from the trap into which he had fallen. They returned to the building from which he had recently escaped. Mr. Grip watched him like a hawk, and kept a hand on his arm, until they were safely within the entrance hall of this buidiag. Then he turned to speak in a low tone with Joe; still keeping a’tight hold on ‘the boy’s collar. Ned ssemed submissive. He had taken off his hat,and stood with his eyes cast down, fumbling in its lining, _He.looked as sheepish as a boy who has earned and expects a whipping, and as if be was fumbling in mere helplessness. Yet there was something fox-like in the sharp glance he cast on his captor as he withdrew one hand from his cap. In that hand was concealed a ciosely-folded square of' paper. This hand, still closed, he thrust into his pocket. “Come on, now,” said Mr, Grip, while Joe turned and left the house.’ ‘* You will not get away So easy this time, my lad,” Ned quietly followed him up-stairs, The boy wasas demure as a rabbit. But he had not ever up. In fact, there was no give up in him, de was all grit from head to foot. * Hey! there’s that dratted boy now! cried a shrill voice, and Ned’s late acquaintance rushed Out of a room on the second floor. ‘* What are you doing back here? Want to steal somethin more?” The termagant seized him by the shoul- ders and shook him roundly. ‘* What's all this? Did he steal anything from you?” asked Mr. Grip, ‘* He tried to, but I chased him off. But he climbed up the back fence and gave me impu- dence, the dratted young street-rat!” She shook Ned again as a cat might shake a mouse, “The back fence, eh? So that was the way you went?” queried Grip, ‘*Reckon: so,” answered Ned, stolidly. “Thought you mought bo waitin’ out front, and didn’t want to give you no trouble,” **You rascal! Pll give you trouble enough yet!” hissed the incensed captor, “Come; get!” cried the woman. ‘I won't trust you here, Be off, while Il keep my tem- r. * Allright, If you don’t want my company Idon’t want yourn. I'll git,” answered Ned turning on his heel, and making a dart toward the stairs, Grip had let go of him in his surprise at the Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. woman’s assault. But he was too keen to be caught napping. He watched the boy like a hawk, and Ned had not made three steps to- ward the stairs before he was after him with a leap. He grabbed him by the collar and jerked him violently back. ** That won’t do, youngster. That game’s too old to playon me. Nevermind this boy, ma’am, Tll take care he don’t steal anything .from you or any one,” ‘*T never stole nothin’from you,” said Ned doggedly,as his captor dragged himon, ‘‘ You done ’bout all the stealin?’ when you wouldn't pay me my twelve dollars,” **Come, now; and hold your tongue,” The captive was dragged up to the rcom he had formerly occupied. Once in there Grip locked the door, seated him violently in a chair, and took another opposite him. Fixing his small, gimlet-like eyes firmly on Ned, he sat in cy watching the wriggling and uneasy OY. Fifteen or twenty minutes passed, without a word being spoken, ‘Then Ned could stand it no longer. He gave a sort of war-whoop, sprung to his feet, and began a violent dance. “Don’t want to grow fast and turn into a mummy,” he explained. ‘‘ Ain’t got no more bricks you want piled, nor nothin’, Mr. Grip?” Grip continued to watch him sourly and stern- ly, saying nothing, but not for an instant losing sight of bis prisoner, At this moment there came a step on the floor outside, The door was tried and then shaken. **Come in!” cried Grip, ‘*T can’t. The door 1s locked,” answered the voice of Joe. ‘* Yes, yes; I forgot.” He rose and went to the door, losing sight of his prisoner for a single instant, That instant was enough for the alert and quick-witted boy, who had been all this time waiting for his opportunity. His hand was withdrawn hastily from his pocket, and some- thing was thrown with a quick fling under the bed. When Grip turned his head again, after unlocking the door, his captive was still danc- ing. “* Hello!” cried Joe, looking at }: 2 curiously. ‘* What’s the matter with the kid?" “No matter what. Let him alone til! we’re ready. Did you get them?” SY cay? He opened a bundle which was under his arm and spread out a suit of boy’s clothes on the table. Ned stopped dancing and opened his eyes{in surprise, “Now, youngster,” said Grip, with a meaning look, ‘‘ I’m going to treat: you to a new suit of clothes.” ‘*Me?” exclaimed Ned, in seeming delight, ‘Ves, you. I owe you some money,and have laid it out in clothes for you.” ‘**Tnat’s hokey! I wanted some new duds jist the wu’st kind. Much ’bliged, Mr. Grip,” and Ned began dancing more vigorously than ever, ‘Call a halt there!” cried Joe, ‘ Youwre a good deal too previous, young man. Come, strip off your rig and put these on, I want to see how they fit.” Nothing loth, Ned obeyed, denuded himself completely of his well-worn clothes, and put on the new ones, which certainly fit him very well, and gave him a much more respectable appear- ance, ‘Ain't ye got a lookin’-glass handy?’ he queried, ‘tI want to take myself in, and see what sort of a lookin’ dude I make.” “You are taken in without a glass, if that’s what you want,” rojoined Grip, triumphantly. “The paper’s nowhere about you now, that’s certain. And if it’s in these clothes, as 1 know it is somewhere, I'l) have it,” _‘* Maybe it’s hid in my hair. You didn’t ’ves- tigate that,” suggested Ned. Mr. Grip looked at his hair. It was cut so close that a razor would have had little to work ie and there was not room for a mosquito to lide, ‘You want a cowhiding, you reprobate!” cried the irate merchant. ‘‘But that reminds me, I forgot to search your cap yesterday,” Ned gave a start as if of Fane “Hat. T touched you there, did I? I judge I’ve got\the best of the game now, my lad, You may ‘go, We dop’t want you any longer.” **Me? Imay go? You ain’t in earnest?” ** Yes, Get; slide; vamose,” said Joe, ‘f Van- ish before | kick you down-stairs.” Ned started with a show of great haste for the door, On reaching it, however, he turned, 4 Me: : “ be 1M Wench ting eae ey walked back and seated himself iu the chair he had recently quitted, ‘*T calculate I'll stay till grub-time’s over,” he announced, ‘* You dunno how holler I am. I want some more of them beef and pertaters, they guv us yesterday.” ‘*Go, now; none of your nonsense,” ‘* Nonsense! when a feller ain’t had a bite for a whole day and night! I jist ain’t goin’ with- out a lunch, that’s dead level.” Mr. Grip looked at Joe, “The youngster must be hungry,” said the latter, ‘* Well, order him up a lunch, We can search these rags while he’s eating.” Joe repaired down-stairs, and in a few min- utes returned with the materials for a satisfac- tory mea], It was all cold, but Ned was too hungry to mind that. He ate like a young hyena, while his captors set themselves to a thorough examination of his discarded clothing. The cap was first investi- gated—torn to pieces, in fact, in their eagerness —but nothing came from it, Ned watched them from a corner of his eye as he went on eating. There was a look of disappointment on Mr, Grip’s face, but he said nothing. They were about half through with their task when Ned at length rose, having left a desert of empty plates behind him, “Them was mighty prime, Much ’bliged, Reckon [ll go now, if nobody ain’t got no ob- jections,” ‘* Very well. Go,” said Mr, Grip. Ned walked independently toward the door, But he had not reached it before a change came over his aspect. A look of pain distorted his face, he clapped both hands to his stomach and uttered a yell of anguish. ‘*Ow! ow! ow!” he screamed, 0’ blazin’ coals! Ow! ow! ow!” He writhed back avd forth over the floor bent nearly double, and with bis hands clasped tightly to his stomach, while his yells of pain grew still louder. The two men sprung up. Joe ran to him, caught him by the shoulder, and shook him violently. ‘“ What's the matter? demancled. ‘“1t’s them cowcumbers! cowcumbers! Ow! ow!,ow!” Wriggling from Joe’s grasp, he fell on the ficor, and rolled and writhed like a person in mortal agony. “The youngster’s got a fit of cramp-colic,” said Mr, Grip. ‘‘ Cucumbers on an empty stomach—I don’t wonder. Run down, Joe, and get him a glass of whisky. We don’t want him to die on our hands,” Joe hastily obeyed, while the howling boy continued to roll and wriggle, He brought up at length half under the bed, Severe as bis ain seemed to be his eyes were wide open and ooking over the floor keenly, Suddenly his hand closed on a little lump of rolled up paper. Then lhe began to wriggie and howl worse than ever, keeping it up till he was in the centre of the floor again. By this time Joe had returned, with a glass half full of whisky, He caught the writhing boy by the shoulder, and forced him into a sit- ting position. "Open your mouth now. this. It will do you good.” Ned obeyed and swallowed a mouthful of the fiery stuff, though it half-choked him and brought tears from bis eyes, He sat upright, sighing and moaning, but no longer yelling as before. ‘*That seems to have touched the right epot. Give him some more,” said Grip, Joe,forced him to swallow another mouthful, This brought him to his feet, coughing as if he was half-strangled. ‘** Don’t you feel better now?” ‘Yes; that kinder fotched the fire; but it *most choked me,” ‘* Take another sup,” ‘*No,no! I don’twant no more. I’m all right now. Guess Vil go,” cried Ned hastily, by no means relishing the strong drink, He walked to the door with an appearance of great feebleness. With the same feeble step he proceeded along the passage, and down the first steps of the stairs, giving a low moan now and then, But be was no sooner fairly out of sight tnan a look of triumph came into his face, . He drew his hand from his pocket and looked at the rolled ball of paper it held, and then thrust it back with a low laugh of satisfaction. “Tt was the cowcumbers did \it,”he said to himself with a sly look. Pm jist full What ails you?” he I can’t never eat Swallow: some of fel elton BEES ad a Bee
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At this momert Joe called from above. ** Come back here, boy. We're not done with you yet.” They had finished their search and found nothing. ‘“*Much I’U come back. I ain’t made that way,” answered Ned, starting to run down- stairs. CHAPTER VI, THE STARVATION CHAMBER, ““Srop, you young hound! Hold up, or I'll skin you!” yelled Joe, as he rushed from the room, and ran after the flying boy. “Oh, yes! Pll comeright back. Jist you wait there till you see me, Tell old Grip [I’m a-com- in’.” He was running at full speed down the stairs as he. shouted back these words, But he was not going to escape his enemies so easily. Grip sprung to the head of the stairs, and called out at the top of his voice: ‘*Hillo! down there. Stop that boy! Don’t let him escape!” There was the sound of footsteps below. As Ned reached the foot of the lower flight, he found himself confronted by the burly form of the bartender, who had heard the alarm and rushed from his den, ‘¢ What’s up, boy? You can’t go this way.” “(Catch him! Bring him back!” came from above. ‘You hear that, boy? You'd best cave.” “Much Ill cave,” retorted Ned, turning the corner of the stairs, and taking his old course toward the yard. : But in running through the kitchen he found a snag in his way. His enemy, the woman, stood there, and as he ran past she grasped him firmly by the coat-collar. ‘¢ Been hookin’ something again, have you?” Ned strove vigorously to tear himself loose, but in aninstant more the bartender bad him by the arm, while Joe came plunging into the room and seized his other arm. ‘“*Come back,” he cried, ‘‘ We're not done with you yet.” “Pm done with you,” screamed Ned, strug- gling to escape. ‘‘ This thing’s played out. I ain’t nobody’s football,” He struggled, fought, scratched, bit with all the savagery of a young hyena, giving the three of them all they could do to hold him. They dragged him back step by step, he still resist- ing. hen he began to yell for help at the top of his voice. ‘*Murder! Help! Murder! Police! Help!” he screamed, loud enough to be heard a block away. ‘Stop him, or we'll have the whole street on us!” cried Grip, who had now reached the spot. “‘Gag him! Knock him senseless! Do some- thing to stop his tongue!” The bartender obeyed. His burly fist fell on the boy’s head with a blow that leveled him to the floor, At the same moment the woman ripped off her apron and tied it around his mouth as an effectual gag. ‘* Now, up the stairs with him,” Joe and the bartender picked up the prostrate boy and started for the stairs. It was no easy job. Ned could yell no more, but he kicked and fought as fiercely as before,and Grip and the woman had to come to their help before they » -_ could make any headway. At length, one grasping each foot and oneeach arm, he was carried up-stairs like a sack of wheat, borne to a’‘room on the fourth floor, and flung down like a log. ‘* You'll stay there till you tellme what you’ve dons with that paper, if it’s a month,” hissed Grip. ‘‘And you'll stay hungry, I'll starve you into submission, you sewer rat. We'll see who'll tire out first.” \ ‘ ‘*it won’t be me, you can bet your level dol- lar on that,” retorted Ned, as he tore the gag from bis mouth. sai No answer was given. The door was slammed to and locked and he left alone to his medita- tions. He could hear his tormentors walking away, probably to make a fuller examination of bis cliscarded clothes, ‘*{f LT ain’t sold you, old Grip, there’s no use taltin’,” he said, to himself,triumphantly. ‘‘It p°ver come inter their noddles to go through this new rig. I tell you, that cowcumber dodge wascute, And wasn’t it lucky they didn’t git onto my hat yisterday !” He laughed to himself as he lay prostrate, slowly recovering from the effects of his violent struggle. It was fifteen minuves before he rose to his feet, and even then he stagg with ex- baustion. He had about used up his nerveforce dn the fight, » aa eee eee ee SSS — He looked around the room, It was bare of furniture except one or two broken chairs. There was a single window, which he soon found to look down on an alley between two houses. There was no escape this way. The surface level was more than thirty feet below him, Had it looked upon the street he might have called for help, but no one was likely to enter that alley, and the house opposite presented only a blank wall, unbroken by a single window. They had him here. He left the window and went to the door. The lock wasa strong one, and the door of inch-thick solid stuff. “T reckon I’m in for it,” he said to bimself. ‘*But I ain’t goin’ to guy up while ther’s a chance open. If old Grip tries to starve me I'll eat that paper, and then seeif he getsit. He’s goin’ to tire me out, he says. We'll see who’s got the most grit, him or me.” This thought, however, brought a measure of precaution to his mind. He took the precious prize from his pocket and thrust it into a crack beneath the surbase, ‘They mought tackle onto that cowcumber dodge,” he considered, ‘‘and come and go through my new rig. Old Grip’s no slouch, nary time; but I reckon I’m rayther wide-awake, too.’ He had not yet completed his examination‘ of the room. ‘There was a closet to be looked into. This he opened, but found nothing but a handful of old newspapers at the bottom, and on the up- pee shelf some blank writing-paper and a few oose envelopes. The stump of a well-worn lead-pencil, an inch in length, lay there, too. ‘¢Dunno as all that’s much good to me,” he muttered. ‘'There’s nobody to write letters to jist now.” Night in due time came on. The events of that day had been many and exciting, and the A Cath an prisoner was pretty -well worn out, ith the first approach of darkness he flung himself at full length on the hard floor, and within five minutes was as fast asleep as if he lay on a couch of rose-leaves, Rough as it was, he had slept the night before in still worse quar- ters. When he woke again the room was flooded with light. He had been roused by the rough application of a foot and the sound of a loud voice: ‘¢Come, stir your stumps. hand over that paper?” It was the voice of Joe, Ned struggled to his feet, and looked up in quizzical triumph. ; ai You went through my duds; didn’t you get ‘*You knew very well it wasn’t there, shoot you! Stand still now. I’m going to see if you managed in any way to transfer it to these clothes. You’re smart enough, hang you!” Ned stood quietly, with a quizzical smile on his face, while Jos thoroughly searched him. Nothing was found. Joe looked at him with a Are you ready to oe aspect. **See here, boy, rg hid that somewhere,” hesaid, ‘ You'd better give it up. You don’t know Mr. Grip, or you wouldn’t fight him. He says he’ll starve you, and he’ll do it. You'll not get a mouthful to eat nor a drop to drink, if it takes a month, You’d better take what he of- fered and hand over the paper. It’s no use to you, anyhow,” ‘*Tt is to him, though, and I reckon I’ll stand a little starvin’, just to spite him. How much is he givin’ you fur this job?” **Confound your impudence!” cried Joe sav- agely. ‘Pll break your jaw if you try any slack on me! Will you take the fifty or not?” ‘* The price of papers has riz,” said Ned cool- Wye ‘*That dokyment’s worth a cool five hun- ; ed now, I won’t sell it to old Grip for a cent 88, “Then stay here and starve,” cried Joe an- grily, as he jerked the door to with a bang, and secur¢ly locked it. That day was the longest Ned Norman ever . Not a soul came nearhim, By night e was desperately hungry, and was suffering horribly from thirst. At intervals during the day he hammered madly on the door, but no one came to his relief, During the night his ae broken by ter- rible dreams, He awoke the succeeding morn- ing the prey of the fiercest anguish. He could have stood the hunger, but the thirst was ‘ic- vouring him, Should he giveup? Another day like this would kill him. He set his teeth like the jaws of a steel-trap. “Pil beat old Grip if Idie for it! Hé kin starve me, I reckon, but he can’t tire me out.” At this moment the key was turned and the door opened, The face of Joe lookedin. That of Grip was visible in the hall behind it, Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. — SEEM a ry ‘Are you ready to take the fifty dollars and give up the paper?” ‘*No! You can tell that white-faced devil: that’s hidin’ behind you that that paper’s worth five hundred dollars, and he can’t have it for a cent less, if I die for it, Jf he don’t take that now, it’ll be a thousand to-morrow.” A fierce oath came from Joe’s lips, For the mo- ment heseemed about to make'an assault on the indomitable boy, but at a signal from Mr, Grip, he closed and locked the door. Ned could hear their footsteps as they walked away. In an ex- tremity of anguish, and hardly knowing what he did, he Aung himself against the door, and kicked and beat it with all his strength. Joe returned. ‘* Well,” he called through the door, “‘ are you ready to give up?” ‘*] want some water! ter ? . ‘¢ Not a drop till you hand over the paper.” **[ won’t do it,” cried the unyielding boy. “T won't never give it till old Grip foot over.” Joe walked away again. Ned flung himself on the floor and writhed in the agony of star- vation. But terrible as was his bodily anguish his mind remained firm. Hisindignationag» inst his enemy was so great that he felt ready to die- rather than yield. f At this moment a sound came to his ears that brougbt him instantly into an attitude of listen- ing attention. t came again—a boy’s whistle, It reached him through the open window. Like an arrcw from the bow Ned sla, to his feet, and hastened to the window. There, in the alley below, was something that brought his heart to- his mouth. Hesaw the ragged form of a dimin- utive bootblack, who was fixing up his box and whistling as independently asif he own New York. ‘* Hello!” cried Ned, with a cry of hope and Bring me some wa- oy. ‘* Hello yourself!” answered the boy, looking around him in surprise. ‘¢Squint your eye up this way.” ‘On! it’s there you is?” answered the young- ster, who had now caught sight of Ned’s head, protruded from the window. ‘* Whatcher want?” ‘¢T dunno. Want to git out o’ this, I reckon.” “Well, why don’t you git out? I ain’t a- hinderin’.” | ‘“T can’t. I’m a prisoner. here, and they’re starvin’ me,” *t My eye! what a lark!” The shoeblack was now full of interest. “T ain’t eat or drank a mouthful fur two. I’m locked up: ays.’ oThat's p’izen bad! Itain’ta sell? Ye’r’ not guyin’ me or nothin’?” “ll tell you all about it; it’s a paper they want to get from me,” answered the pent-up ne- gotiator in a low, mysterious tone, ‘and I won’t give it up, no, not for a cent lessthana thousand dollars.” {f he had desired to rouse the utmost interest- of the boy, he couldn’t have taken a better course, Here was a romance in real life that was worth a dozen novels, “¢ Wait!” cried theurchin, ‘Vl fetch you out. I'll bring all,the boys, and we'll go through the: old shanty like rank p’izen.” **No,” said Ned, to whom a new thought had ust then come, “T can tell you a better way. ou know New York?” ‘* Well, I'd smile! Whatcher take me fur?” “Then I want you to deliver a jetter for me. It'll be worth a dollar to you.” “I’m yer hoss, Sail in,” “Wait a few minutes till I write it.” Leaving the window Ned hurried to the close took possession of the pencil and a sheet of aper, and hastily wrote a few lines. He then nclosed the sheet in one of the envelopes, and taking the hidden pepe: from the place where he: had concealed it, he unfolded it and placed it. with the written sheet. He next sealed and di-- rected the envelope. ‘Can you find Burton & Jones’s store, No, — William street?” ; . **You bet. I ain’t no cross-cut saw, but I reckon 1’m sharp ’nough fur sich a job as that. Ain’t yer got nothin’ barder?” “Take this letter there; ask for Mr, Burton;, don’t give it to nobody else. Tell him where if am, and ask him to come and take me out. You: "a forget this oar ol i nay ‘Do you see anything green In my eye? A high old shebang it in, too, Jist the raringest. ‘ old shebang in York. Drop that thardokyment.. T'll fotch bim.” : Ned let fall the letter, Without waiting for
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E ~ further directions the urchin seized it, snatched a he . starving me, ’cause I won’t fork over, -__-was tantalizingly incomplete. his box, looked up at Ned with a knowing wink, and darted out of the alley. The prisoner left the window with a face full of hope. He fancied he had won in the shake- up with Grip & Gorley . CHAPTER VII. “VE SENT FOR HIM, AND HERE HE Is,” “JT pon’r want any blacking to-day.” The speaker was a portly, benevolent-looking personage, who sat in a revolving-chair at an office desk. ‘¢T dunno as I axed you fur no shine,” replied the youthful individual addressed. ‘“Then you'd better get out. What do you want here?” ‘Want a dollar.” “A dollar? Well, that’s cool! What for?” “‘ Fur fetchin’ you this here dokyment.” He drew from his pocket and held out to the merchant a grimy envelope, i ‘*What’s all this about? Come, get out. I have no time to waste on you.” “Much Pll git, Nary a step till you read this and fork over my greenback, Then you’ve got to foller me, ’cause the chap as sent it’s a pris- *ner, and I’m to fotch you, an’ you an’ me’s to fotch him out. .He’s ’way up at the top of a house, and he’s in quod there.’ The boy had grown very earnest and mysteri- ous. He turned his box on end and seated him- self as if he wasa fixture. Mr, Burton—for it was he--looked at him in surprise, Then, with a laugh, he extended his hand and said: **Dear me, what a mystery we have here! Hand me the letter. If I find it worth a dollar you shall have it.” ‘‘Ther’sa paper. The feller’s hid it. The’r’ tryin’ ter squeeze it outer him. He axes ’em a thousand dollars, and it’s got to be forked down fore witnesses. I tell you, it’s jist gay. I jist never got inter nothin’ as prime’s this afore,’ Mr. Burton looked at him again, then opened the envelope and extracted its contents. These consisted of a greatly creased and crumpled half-sheet of letter-paper, and a folded and pen-_ ciled slip. The latter he first opened and read as follows: “T’m a prisoner; Old Grip’s got me and he’s I send you tue paper, ‘cause he won't lst me fetch it, andI’m bound he sha’n’t have it. Dunno what it’s all sbonut, but he wants it back worse than p’izen. Don’t you miss erage withithe boy, for I ain’t had nothin’ to eat and drink for two days, and I’m pretty near pegged out; I can’t go it another day, nohow.”’ ’ ‘* What does this mean? Where did you get it?) Whois this Ned Norman?” ‘*Dunno no more nora catfish, I'll tell you all I know ’bout it. It’s a gay lark now, you het.” ‘ The urchin proceeded to describe his adven- ture, Mr. Burton listening with much interest. At the end of the story he turned to the second paper: ‘*Mxssrs. Burton & JonEs:— ‘* Pay to the bearer the sum of one hundred dol- lars, and charge the same to account of “Grip & GoRLEY,.”’ “Well, that’s odd! What in the world can they mean? Grip & Gorley! Sending a cash order on me! Well, I’d give twice the money to find out what they’ve been at in the Govern- ment supply department. See here, Jones,” to / a gentleman who had just entered, ‘‘ what do ‘ou make of this?’ i r, but his eye fell Mr, Jones received the ye on the other side of it, He looked at it curious- ly, an odd expression stealing over his face, ‘ Where did you get this? It’s confoundedly queer. By Jove! [think here’s the secret of our losing the contract, That’s Gorley’s hand—I'd know it anywhere, And Jenkins’s,of course. I don’t wonder you’repuzzled, But where’sthe rest of the letter? and how under the sun did you get s? That Burton was puzzled was true enough; and he grew more puzzled at every word from his partner. ‘What in the world are you talking about?” he cried, at length, cote the paper from his hand, ‘‘ There’s nothing there but an order on us from Grip & Gorley for a hundred dol- Jars— Ha! what's this? I didn’t see this be- ll eyes had now fallen on the reverse side of 6 pa ter, addressed to ‘‘ H, Jenkins, Esq.” The si poi was wanting, for the pa had been torn in half down the middle, and all that remained was a series of half lines of writing, whose sense . What he saw was the half of a let- Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. . , He read them over and over, Jones looking over his shoulder, ‘* Well, this is strange—and mighty suspicious, Has Jenkins been bribed to suppress our bid, and work in that of Grip & Gorley? It looks much like it, eh, Jones? But why did Grip send it to us, and with that order on it? Isit a sell?” ** What order?” ‘* See here.” He showed the order for the money. ‘““That’s confoundedly queer, How did you get the paper? **Reckon I fotched it yere,” answered the bootblack. ‘And I want mydollar, I ain’t goin’ to be dished outer that.” ‘¢ Here it is; you’ve earned it,” answered Mr. Burton, witha smile. ‘‘ Wait; maybe you may make another.” He proceeded to tel] Mr. Jones the whole story of how he became possessed of the paper, his partner listening with absorbing interest, ‘* By Jove! that makes it deeper than ever!” exclaimed Jones, ‘‘ Whatis Gripupto? What dces the whole business mean, anyhow? Has he blundered in some way, and is he trying to re- pair his mistake? There’s a big nigger in the wood-pile here, Burton.” ‘* There is, and no mistake. We must go for ae prisoner at once, You can take us to him, oy? ‘*T should smile if I couldn’t, But ther’s two o’ you. I on’y corntracted fur one. You got to fork over two dollars fur that, ’cause it’s double work,” The merchants smiled at this new conception of arithmetic, ‘* Allright. Two dollars it shall be.” ‘¢ That’s hokey-davy! I’m yer elephant. Git ready; l’m on the war-path,” He hoisted his box to his shoulders, and stood eager for the words, In a few minutes more the strangely-assorted trio were on their way. Meanwhile matters of interest were transpir- ing in the prison-house of Ned Norman, Mr, Grip and Joe were in close and earnest confer- ence in the apartment they had formerly occu- ied, : ‘‘Tt’s no particulary affair of mine,” said Joe, ‘© You pay me for my work, and you’re going to pay me extra for this. But I might ask, is the ame worth the candle? If itis, how came you Rive that paper to the boy? Hasit anything o with that old affair?” “Tt was all a stupid blunder, I wouldn’t have Burton & Jones get it for five thousand dollars.” “‘But suppose the boy should die on our hands?” Joe’s voice trembled a little. ‘* Wo, no; I don’t want that.” ‘‘But he may, if this lasts much longer.” **T wish I’ given him the hundred dollars, I wanted to tire him out, and, confound him, he’s going to tire me out.” ; “The rascal’s put bis price now at a thou- sand; and I don’t believe there’s a cent of fall in him. He’s got more grit than a yoke of oxen.” “T hate to give in,’ said Grip, setting his teeth tightly. ** Tt won’t do to have him dead on our hands, We've got to change our plans. As for the paper, this much is sure, it’s noton him. He’s hia it somewhere, If we can only make him say where,” ; “Tt? But how? We'd better try something more sudden than starving. The thumb trick isa good ove, Tie him up by the thumbs and keep him there till be tells.” Joe shook his head, Bae ‘Tt won't do.” _“* Why won’t it do? There’s not a man in this city could stand it ten minutes,” “There’s a boy, then. Or a young devil, which he seems to be, I'll tell you what will to ‘*He'll raise his price to two thousand, and stick to that like eos death, You’d best try and buy him off at the thousand, if he won’t take less,” Mr. Grip leaned his head on his hand and seem- ed buried in deep reflection. He continued thus for several minutes, bis lips working curiously. At length he sprung to his feet with an air of decision. ‘ ** Come,” he said. Joe followed. Grip led the way to the cell of their prisoner. At a motion to Joe the door was opened and they entered. The captive sat on a chair by the window, his head resting on the sill. He looked up on their entrance, but did not rise, nor show much in- terest, Es ore hy . Be,t eke Mais i a TR Sa ea ae ae a SEL HT ae ean. i or ro aera d et a a angen Who is the bearer? This boy?” | “Come, young man,” | show of kindness, ‘‘ this thing has gone far enough, That paper is mine, as you know. | want it back, and will give you all it calls for. Why do you act so obstinaiels about it?” ‘Cause you ain’t acted straight.” ‘Come, come; let’s make an end of this. | give you the hundred dollars.” | ‘*My figure went up to a thousand yesterday. I ain’t makin’ no drop to-day.” ‘* That’s all nonsense, boy, How much do you really want for that paper?” | ‘That paper ain’t for sale,” answered Ned, resolutely, ‘‘ You wouldn’t buy at my figure, 4t’s gone up out o’ sight to-day. I reckon that there paper ain’t in the market,” , ‘‘ What have I done to you that you should act in such a senseless fashion?” ‘“*Bout all you knowed how,” rejoined Ned, | ** You've been squeezin’ me.rough, But you started to bark up the wrong tree, and I calcu- late you’re goin’ to find that out.” ‘¢ See here, now: tell me where you have put the paper, and I will count you down five hun- dred dollars on this table.” “ And grab if, up ag’in after I’ve told.” ‘*No, no; [ will deal honest with you. trust to you to tell the truth.” ‘* Nobody never caught me inalie yet,” an- swered Ned, indignantly. ‘* But I’m jist burn- in’ up alive. You'll not git another word out o’ me till you fetch me some water.” Joe went out at a sign from Mr. Grip, and re- turned in a minute or two with a tumbler of water. This Ned seized with the avidity of overpowering thirst and swallowed its contents at a single gulp. “ That's good!” he said, with infinite satisfac- tion, ; ‘Well, are you ready to answer?” “Pl tell you this much,” answered Ned. ain’t hid it nowbere. But I’ve put it in good hands. You plank down the money, and [ll send for the man that’s got it, and tell him that you've bought it and that I ain’t got!no more claim on it.” Pu But I eT Here’s the money. But youare . his appearance,” ‘¢T7ll be mine then?” “ Yes,” ‘Then it’s a bargain,” Mr. Grip drew a wallet from his pocket and began to count out bank-notes. Ned, who still sat by the window, looked at him languidly. There was a queer expression on his face, The notes were half counted when a whistle was heard outside, Ned thrust his head out of the window and made a signal with his hand. “What's that?” cried Joe, who had noticed ths movement, Ha. sprung to the window and looked suspi- ciously out. No one was visible. The alley was deserted, ; * Tt’s what I call a sell,” said Ned, coolly. Mr. Grip continued to count out notes, ‘“There are five hundred,” he announced. ‘*Now keep your word, and send for the holder of the paper.” ‘‘No use in that. He’s sent for already.” * What?” } ute, That’s business, I reckon,” “ What folly is this?” * Don’t you hear them steps?” __ Footsteps indeed could be beard on the stairs, Grip and Joe looked at one another in surprise, The next moment the bootblack urchin leaped into the room, “This youngster? Is he the one that has the = aper ?? ‘* No; but this is the one,” said Mr. Grip, with a> ‘* He'll be here with the paper inside of amin- | A manly figure had followed the guide into. the room, at sight of whom Grip fell back with a cry of astonishment that was almost ter-_ ror. ‘ Z A second person followed, They were the merchants, Burton & Jones, Ned sprung for- ward and covered the money on the table with both hands. ; ; ‘“ T reckon I’ve earned this,” he cried. man’s got the paper,” ‘¢ Tye sent for him, an here he is.”. CHAPTER VIII. A FIGHT FOR A TREASURE... ‘“THERE’S your man. He’s got the paper. is my provender,” cried Ned, busily th the bank-notes into his pockets as he spoke, ! ‘* Very well, not to touch it till the man with the paper makes ‘‘Hand that over, you Young thief!” yelled Grip, partly recovering. aps an y ie “That: |) aa Pointing to Mr. Burton, “iy That fills out my contract. And I calculate this — i
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Sg wae, OSS } ee i | es is ae ee 4 ae) ee m spt ret A aes ; ‘ Bet ge $f a id “ 4 Aes | i 1 oe? Wy % a i, ss ( ie et ay wT. 4 Je ty gene ; ‘¢ Didu’t intend to let me have it. I knowed that. But I earned it, ’cordin’ to contract, and Ive got it.” He grabbed the last of the notes, slipped un- der Grip’s grasping fingers, and sprung for the door. ‘* You'd best slide like a pound o’ butter off a hot plate,” he cried, to the new-comers, ‘ This is a ugly hole, an’ there’s ugly customers around.” fle darted for the stairs, followed closely hy the bootblack, and at a little distance by the infuriated Grip, The latter, as on a previous oceasion, began to shout at the top of his voice: “Stop him! Don’t let him escape!” The sound of a slamming door below showed that the alarm had been taken. The next moment a new thought came into the villain’s mind. He had no doubt that Bur- ton heldthe paper. The boy had in some way conveyed it to him. He was the one to go for, aot the boy. He turned sharply on his heel, while he cried to Joe; “¢Lock the door! Don’t let them out! They shall notgo till they return that paper!” He wastoo late. It is idle to fasten the cage after the bird is oud. The two merchants had taken the alarm given by Ned, and rushed from the room. Grip turned to find them close beside him, and Joe following them, He placed himself across their path, with the intention of stopping them, but Burton, the largest man of the two, grappled with him, flung him vigorously aside, and rushed tor the stairs. Jones followed, giving a back-handed blow to Grip as he passed that sent him reel- Ing. The villain, however, was but an instant in recovering. He rushed after them, with Joe close on his heels, yelling as before to his confed- erates below: “Stop them! Don’t let them past! A hun- dred dollars to the man that stops them!” Down the stairs went fugitives and pursuers, in headlong flight. From the bar-room below severe hard-faced customers emerged. It was a dangerous locality, and Messrs. Burton & Jones were likely to find it no easy matter to es- cape from the hornets’ nest which they had en- tered. Meanwhile the two boys had continued their flizht, Not to the lower floor, however. Ned had had his eye-teeth cut. He remembered his former experience, heard the warning cries of his enemy, and determined not to fall into the same trap again. “This way,” ke cried to his companion. * What’s your name?” Dick,” ‘““This way, Dick. chaps like us,” Hedarted into a rear room onthesecond floor, the one from which he had formerly seen the woman looking, He had not forgotten that the window of this room opened upon aslanting roof over the kitchen door, It took him but a minute to reach the win- dow, throw up the sash and spring out upon the roof, Down ib he ran tothe lower edge, let himself down by his hands and dropped to the yard below. He had not far to fall, Dick, with the agility of a young monkey, fol- lowedhim. In amoment they stood side byside in the yard, Contrary to his former experience the gate stood ajar. He looked into the kitchen; it was empty. ‘(Them’s lively papers!” cried Dick, enthusi- astically, ‘‘ Let's git.” Theagile youngster bad clung to his box, which still hung over his shoulder, ‘+ Waid,” answered Ned. Ts’pose you’re in for fun?” “ Ain’t lf Whatcher take me fur?” ‘‘Open your ears, then; there’s some slap-up old fun a-comin’.” In fact, threatening sounds, the rush of human forms, furious shouts, threats, answering cries, could be heard from withinthe house. Evident- ly things were becoming critical, The boys ven- tured into the kitchen, attracted by these signs of warfare, and eager to discover what was go- i Down-stairs ain’t safe for ‘¢There’s no hurry. ng on, Ned looked curiously through the inner door. There stood bis old enemy, the woman, and op- posite ber the bartender, with a couple of hard- faced customers behind him, The sound of steps could ‘be beard on the stairs, as loud almost as if a dozen oxen had been coming down at a plunge. The voice of Grip sounded above all: “Stop them! Don’t let them past! A hun- dred dollars for their bodies!” An instant moreand affairs werelively enough te suit even Dick. A dozen men seemed mingled Ned Norman, the Gamin N egotiator. in mortal combat, and blows were being given and taken with indiscriminate fury. The two fugitives bad sprung from the stairs, and were seeking with all their strength to | ay their way through the group of their | oes. | The first onset leveled the two bloated rum- | mies to the floor, but the burly bartender, and | the little less burly woman, still blocked the way, and in the next instant Grip and Joe sprung down and joined the fray. Burton andJones were by no means weak- lings. They were both strong men and fought hard, while they called lustily for help. But, the odds were against them, and in that street help was the more likely to be on the other side. Hard blows were given and returned, the combatants were down, up, struggling asif for dear life, tearing and rending like demons in a trays he two boys sofar had been mere spectators, though Dick was dancing with eagerness to take part, and swinging his box threateningly, Ned kept more cool, watching his chances, and in doubt whether he had not better go for the police. His chance soon came. His old enemy, the woman, had taken advantags of Mr. Burton’s back being turned to her, raised a heavy poker which she had brought from the kitchen, and | was about to bring it down with a stunning blow on his head. At that instant Ned sprung into the fray, tripped up her beels from behind, and gave her a thrust that sent ber like a log to | the floor, the crack of her head on the boards ! sounding above the noise of the fight, | This divefsion was momentarily in favor of | the defendants; but, the odds were too great; a | vigorous blow sent Jones revling to the floor; | another hurled Ned upon the woman, who was | striving to get up, and brought her again to the | floor, while he came down upon her asa soft cushion to break his fall. While this was going on Mr, Burton ‘was seized by the strong arms of Joe and the bar- tender, and held too firmly to move, Grip took | instant advantage of the opportunity, sprung ) upon his foe, and began to search his pockets with the adroitness of a pickpocket. Less than a minute sufficed. From Burton’s vest pocket he extracted the highly-treasured | document, The merchant, not foreseeing such | an affair as this, had carelessly thrust it in this insecure receptacle. One hasty glance con- | vinced Grip of the value of his capture. Hold- ing it aloft, he waved it round his head with | mi triumph of a victor, and shouted in tones of ee: “Tve gotit! Ive got it! Out of doors with them! We've got no further use for them.” While he continued to wave his prize in tri- umph, bis assistants obeyed thisorder, Burton was rushed violently to the door by the twomen who held him, and thrust out reeling upon the avement, The other two men grasped Jonesas Let them go, | | | e rose staggering to his feet, and hurled him | into the street after his partner. Grip looked on with a grin of irrepressible triumph, still ex- citedly waving the captured treasure, It seemed for the moment as if he had won the But | there is many aslip between the cup and the lip, as he was destined to learn. His triumph was | about to be converted into defeat from an unex- | | battle, and distanced all his opponents. pected quarter, Dick, as we have said, had stood outside the fray, dancing with excitement, and lookin eagerly for a chance to joinin. His chance ha come, As Grip for the iast time waved his | yrize above his head,a crushing blow camo on bie arm, almost enough to break it. The paper | flew fluttering from his hand, and the arm fell disabled to his side, | Dick had got his work in. Swinging his wooden bootblack’s box around by the strings with which he carried it, he brought it down vigorously on Grip’s arm. With a leap like that of a cat he sprung for the fluttering paper, and caught it before it reached the floor. ‘‘ Hurrah for our side! Let’s git!” he cried to Ned, who had just then nite Hyde himself from th» woman and struggled to his feet, Ned was not quite ready. He saw one lastiop- portunity to get even with the enemy. Grip stood writhing with the pain of the blow he had received. One lkick on his heels from Ned’s | heavy shoes knocked his feet from under him, and down he came like a log on the broad.of his: | peaks falling with such force as to half stun | im, One quick leap took Ned into the kitchen, whither Dick had already preceded him, ! ~ | gained the gate, “Come ahead!” he shouted, “Lively! The gate’sour dodge. Let out, my lad!” “Let out’s the word. Dig inand I’marter you like a cat arter milk.” The gate, as we have said, wasajar. It was the work of a few seconds only for the agile boys to reach it, fling 1t open and gain the alley beyond, Down this they fled like a pair of wea- sels, the sounds of pursuit behind adding wings to their speed. Pursuit began too Jate. The fugitives were in the street; beyond before their pursuers had A lively run quickly put them beyond all danger of being overtaken, ‘Did you git it, Dick?” ‘You bet yer level dollar. My eye, didn’t I fotch him prime! : Never tad sich a lark in my born days. Here it is.”’ Ho pulled the captured prize from his pocket and handed itto his companion. ‘‘ Bully for you, Dick. That’s it, sure enough. Tell you what, boy, this thing’s worth a hun- dred dollars, and it’s yourn. Burton’s got to fork over if he wants it, but I reckon he won’t kick.” “*Y don’t want mor’n half,” protested Dick. “You've got to take all, Why, Dick, I got five hundred out of old Grip. I’m richer than Vanderbilt. Got ’most’nough to buy a steam- boat.” As the boys walked onward talking they saw before them two downcast-looking men, with torn clothes and generally-disreputable ap- pearance. They were the merchants, Burton and Jones, The boys came up close behind them, curious | to hear their conversation. «¢ Confounded fvol that { was not to leave that paper at the office!” growled Burton, “‘ Grip’s got the whip-band cn us,” “Yes: we've no evidence without that. It called for a hundred dollars for the boy; I’d ' give that much money this minute to have it back in my fingers.” “Tats hokey! That?ll befifty apiece,”came a gleeful voice behind him, ‘'Say, mister, you kin fork over now, fur here’s the dokyment.” What was the surprise and joy of the discom- fited merchants, on turning, to see behind them | their late confederates, one of, them waving his | cap in the air, the other the captured. paper. CHAP? FR IX THE BOOTBLACKS’ BANQUET. A VERY amusing scene was being enacted in one of the fashionable New York restaurants, a scene such as never before bad been beheld in that home of wealth and gastronomy. Ina richly-furnished apartment of said restau- rant, around a handsomely-covered dining table, sata group of boys, »bo were certainly much out of place in such a scene, If. their ragged and begrimed attire had not been sufficient, the brush-and-blacking boxes which reposed behiud each chair would have in- dicated their profession--that of bootbiack, They were indeed the guests of our two friends, Ned and Dick, who bad decided on having a grand blow-outin consequence of their success and to spend some of the cash to which they ba fallen heir, The proprietor of the restaurant had natural- ly objected to the proposition, as we!l from the character of his guests as from doubt of their. financial ability. But when Ned, in a lofty manner, asked him for his bill in advance, and lanked down the necessary funds, and when Nick insisted on his compliance with all the as- | surance of a City Hall** shiner,” the proprietor pave way, looking on the affair as a stupendous joke. And now, with Ned at the head and Dick at the foot of the table, anda dozen of sharp-eyed “blacks ” ranged along itssides, everything was ready for the banquet to begin. Tne waiters who stood behind, in all the splen- dor of black coats and white cravats, almost choked themselves in their efforts to preserve the gravity fitting the occasion, and dared/not look at one another for fear of exploding into laughter. - s “Now, fellers, you’re here to eat; don’t you forget that,” began Ned. ‘’Tain’t often this here place gits such a distinguis: ed crowd, end T want vou to let ’em see that you know some- thin’, Don’t nobody dig in, cause these here flunkies is here to wait on you. They’re paid for it, and they’ve got‘to earn the’r_ dough.” “ Bully fur you!” ¢ried Dick. ‘‘ We're gin’le- men, you bet! The feller as cuts up any shin- digs is goin’to be h’isted, and J’m the chap that’s goin’ to h’ist him. You hear me,” ‘‘ Dry up, and let’s pile in.” excleimed one of the larker urchins, ‘‘ While you're givin’ us fm
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Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. ‘all that chin music the vittals is gittin’ cold and 1 didn’t come down here to lunch on cold vittals.” The eyes of the other boys were sparkling as if they quite agreed with this sentiment, and Ned, seeing that they had been restrained long enough, gave the signal for the waiters to be- in. . Dick had ordered ‘‘a high-up old feed, just like the bloods git,” and the banquet began with plates of soup—very thin soup—placed be- fore the guests, The gamins sat looking down at their plates with bewilderment, the eyes of some of them as jarge as saucers, while others, thinking they were being made fun of, grew red with anger. ‘* What yer takin’ us fur?” cried Dick. ‘‘ We didm’t come here ter go a-swimmin’. Not in such puddle water as that, anyhow.” , ** T reckon this is a sell, fellers,” cried another. ‘Them flunkies think we don’t know nothin better’n dish-water,” That's the soup. We always begin with soup,” explained one of the waiters, while the others stuifed their napkins into their mouths to prevent the threatened explosion. **Soup!” cried Dick, turning up his nose. ‘‘ Whatcher comin’ over us? I guess that’s the kind o’ soup as a feller kin wade a mile through *thout findin’ a bean. I’ve hearn tell o’ that sort,” ““Dry up, and dig in, Don’t expose your ignorance,” exclaimed Ned, with authority. ‘Tt's better than it looks,” As he set the example, the guests followed, though evidently with no great relish, some using spoons, others drinking from the edge of the plates. ‘*Now take them slops away and fetch us somethin’ to eat,” ordered Ned. ‘‘ We didn’t come here to drink our dinner,” “Bully for you,” cried one of the boys. “Talk ’*bout soup! Sich stuff as that! Fotch along somethin’ solid and we'll show you what boys’ teeth was made fur,” In a trice the waiters whipped away the half- emptied plates, and with little regard for the due succession of courses, placed before their unsophisticated guests fish, flesh, and fow] in mingled profusion, ‘‘Help yerself, fellers. Dig in lively; I’m a- goin’ ter,” yelled one, ‘No yer ain’t, or you'll go a-sailin’ out that there door,” cried Dick. ‘‘That’s what these hefe flunkies is paid fur, and we're not goin’ ter waste our money. If yer want anything jist ax them perlitely.” What to ask for, however, was beyond the boys’ power to decide, the banquet before them being as strange to their eyes asan undiscovered country. ‘*1}l take some deviled crabs and fricass2ed terrapins for mine,” said.Ned, ‘‘ and a set-out 0’ lobster-salad, We've paid for the best, boys, and don’t let’s be put off with no every-day hash. Tbis cue was quickly taken, and there was an uproarious call for the dishes ordered by Ned, with such other outlandish viands as occurred to the boys’ sense of humor. * Motch me some b’iled cobble-stones, and pickled blue-birds’ wings,” cried one. “Tl take pigs’ toe-nails and oysters,” yelled another. The waiters looked at each other as a succes- sion of such orders rolled round the table. A wink from the leading waiter cut the knot of the difficulty. Taking a cut from the first dish that presented itself he offered it to Ned. ‘*Here’s your fricasseed terrapin/sir, What else did you order, sir?’ The other waiters took the cue, and served the remaining boys in the same haphazard fasb- ion, very well satisfied that none of them would know what they were eating, ‘*Now, fellers, dig’s the word,” cried Dick. “Don’t make hogs 0’ yerselves, but jist put yerselyes outside this grub as lively as you kin do it perlite.” This was an order the hungry young Arabs were quite ready to obey, and for the next ten minutes the rattle of knife and fork and the clatter of crockery filled the room with music, while the waiters were kept busy satisfying the ‘wants of their unceremonious guests, Some of the latter were inclined to discard ‘the civilized incumbrances of knife, fork, and spoon, and go back to the primitive implements of fingers and teeth; but these Dick brought up with a round turn, giving them plainly to un- derstand that he would permit no lapses into barbarism, ** See here, fellers: next thing we'll have these here servants”—-there Was an expression of haughty superiority in Dick’s use of this word— ‘‘these here servants sayin’ as we're gutter- snipes, as ain’t had no fotchin’ up. Now, fur the honor o’ the ‘shine-~em-ups,’ don't you go fur to make hogs o’ yerselves. An’ I'll punch the snout o’ the fu’st feller as does, that’s more,” **Good for you, Dick,” cried Ned. ‘‘ Keep your end o’the table straight, and Ill keep mine,” Abundant as had been the provision made, the boys’ appetites had not been accurately gauged, and the dishes needed to be filled up again be- fore they had their fill of the solids and were ready for the dessert. What they had been eating the most of them knew no more than the man in the moon, but appetite covered all deficiencies in knowledge, and no more thoroughly enjoyed feast had ever been served in that apartment. “*Whatcher got next?” queried Dick, on the removal of the plates, ‘** Plum-puddin’, cabinet-puddin’, suet-puddin’, apple-dumplin’,” began one of the waiters, in a sing-song tone, ‘*mince-pie, apple-pie, cherry- pie, egg-custard, cocoanut-custard, lemon—” ‘Dry up,” cried Ned, authoritatively. *‘ Fetch them along. Reckon that’s enough. We don’t want toeat a whole ’pothecary’s shop, or a camp- meetin’ set-out.” ** Fotch me’bout three kinds o’ puddin’ and four kinds o’ pie,” cried Dick. ‘I ain’t as hun- gry as I was, and a feller’s got ter haul short somewhere. Don’t want ter be a hog.” The pies and puddings looked, after five min- utes’ exercise, as if a famine had struck the table. Much as the gamins bad devoured, their appetite for pastry seemed untouched, and the eyes of the waiters opened wide to see the havoc that was mae, Even the giver of the feast thought it best to calla halt at last, *¢ There’s more a-comin’, boys; and if you keep on fillin’ up in that style you won’t have room for a fly’s wing.” ‘** More a-comin’?” cried one of the gaming, let- ting fall a huge cut of pie. ‘* Yes; ice-cream and cakes, and extras.” ‘*Tce-cream!” yelled the gamin in ecstasy, ‘‘-Yer ain’t a-sayin’ it fur a dodge? ’Tain’t no sell now, is it?” ‘*Nary sell,” exclaimed Dick. ‘‘Jist you ser- vants pile out with this truck, and pile in with the next course. And lively, too, ’cause we’ve paid in advance,” In a trice the table was emptied and the ‘‘ ser- vants” had covered it again with pyramids of cream and dishes of cake, to the utter delight of the youngsters, whose indulgence in this Juxury hitherto had been confined to a five-cent feast from a street-vender. ‘* Why didn't yer tell us ’bout this sooner, ‘fore we laid in stock?” a **Tce-cream don’t take up no room,” explained ved, One would have thought it took up an im- mense amount of room, by the staring eyes and distorted faces of some of the boys, who had be- gun to indulge too profusely in the frozen viand, *“* It don’t choke nobody’cept hogs,” said Dick, scornfully, ‘‘and hogs qughter be choked.” Taking warning from these few victims to greediness, the remaining boys ate their cream more moderately, But Ned’s suggestion that ice-cream took up no room seemed verified by the way in which the pyramids lowered and dis- appeared, But the powers of the young gourmands were at length exhausted, and when the active wait- ers removed the emptied dishes and replaced them with heaped-up baskets of fruit sat nuts, they could only open their eyes in astonishment and regret and look reproachfully at the givers of the feast, ‘Oranges! pine-apples! bananers!” cried one, ** Nuts!” ejaculated another.) - *¢ Andnobody never told us,” said a third, ‘*Oh, laws! is all them got ter be eat?” “The’r paid fer,” explained Dick. ‘ Yer ain’t a-goin’ ter let the landlord make nothin’ off yer, hey?” This suggestion roused some of the more am- bitious of the boys,and a few feeble attempts to devour the fruit were made; but it was of no use; the limit of their capacity had been reached. The waiters looked on with secret smiles, They had been astonished at the feats of the gamins, and this defeat was a triumph to them. Ned observed this, and at onee determined that they should not have the Jaugh on the bootblacks, ‘It’s paid fur, fellers, and it’s yourn,” he sides, you have in your pockets, Go in, boys; these flunkies are laughin’ at you.” ‘Them servants a-laughin’at us! I’m ’ston- ished!” cried Dick, ‘ Let’s make ’em laugh t’other side er the mouth,” He set the example by thrusting both hands into the fruit and rapidly filling his pockets, The other boys lost no time in following his ex- ample, and almost before one could count ten the fruits and nuts had disappeared from the vision of the astonished waiters and the pockets of the gamins were enormously distended, ‘© Where does the laugh come in now?’ de- manded Ned, turning with a wink to the wait- ers, “*“‘I s’pose we're ’bout through. Ain’t nothin’ more comin’, hey?” ‘* Wine and cigars,” suggested one of the waiter$, with difficulty preserving his gravity. ‘« Nary wine and cigars,” said Ned, decidedly. ‘* There’s where the line’s got to be drawn. But L reckon we could go some lemonade,” This proposal was received with applause, and the waiters, who had been directed to supply all that had been called for, were not long in filling this new order; nor were the boyslonginempty- ing the flowing bowls of the healthful beverage. ‘**Now,” cried Dick, ‘the fun’s over; biz is on. Shoulder boxes; ready; march!” and mar- shaled in military lines, the gamins followed their leaders, down the stairs and through the main saloon, where the guests, who had heard of what was going on, anxiously awaited their advent. The proprietor walked up, as the head of the line reached the door, ‘* Well, young gentlemen, how do you feel af- ter your feast?” he asked. ‘* Weel?’ cried Dick, ‘‘ we feel full; full inside and outside, and you kin bet yer level head that’s a new feel fur most of us Chaps. Steady; forward; march!” and the gamins proudly filed out of the saloon, amid a chorus of laughter from the guests. CHAPTER X, NED MAKES A NEW CONTRACT. Two days afterward Ned appeared at the store of Burton & Jones, He had been seeing New York under the guidance of Dick,/and had managed to obtain some idea of the mysteries of the metropolis in that time, The report of the feast, toward which he had not permitted Dick to contribute a cent, had made Ned the hero of the gamins, while the story of the splen- dors and wonders of that banquet, as told by the participants, proved a source of interest that was not soon likely to die out. The popularity of the two new-made friends was not diminished by the freedom with which they spent money on the inhabitants of Gamin- ville during: these days. It might have been thought bysome a dangerous society in which to make a free exhibition of funds, but certainly nothing passed out of their pockets except throught heir own good will, ‘* Well, young man, I have heard of you,” said Mr, Burton to Ned on his appearance, ‘In fact, you’re the talk of the ton; the papers bave been giving the full details of the boot- blacks’ banquet.” ‘“¢You don’t say so?’ cried Ned, delightedly. **Can't youcut it out and lel me haveit? I want to show it to Dick and the boys,” ‘Very well; but you look the worse for wear, What have you been doing?’ ‘Been seein’ New York,” answered Ned. **T should judgeso. Had your pocket picked?” ‘*‘Nary time. Spent some; got the balance here,” slapping bis pocket. ‘No feller sim’t goin’ through me easy.” “Tf you are going to see any more of New York vou had best leave your money in sate hands; suggested Mr, Burton. *‘Tbat’s my ad- vice.” ‘*1’'m done seein? New York,” answered Ned decidedly. ‘After sich a slap-up time as | had with old Grip I had to let down the bars a little, But I got to make a livin’, Mr, Burton, and that ain’t the way to make it. Llain’t no fool, and I ain’t afeard o’ work, and I reckon: him that hires me won't waste his wages,” **T should think not,” answered the nierchant, looking with some admiration into the mtelli- gent and energetic face of the boy. “*f£ tanec that when you take hold you won't let go easy.” “ Jist ask old Grip how I done when he set me to pile bricks,” answered Ned, proudly. ‘He was goin’ to tire me out, be said: I calevlate it’s him as got tired. Where’s he now, Mr. Burton? Had apy more fan with bim since that high old time over yonder?’ He pointed with his thumb in the direction of the recent fracas, ‘‘ He is done with me,!? fancy. I bear that shouted. ‘If you ain't got no room in your in-‘' he has gone back to Philadelphia, But I am \ 2 pmbiihe a sings ‘ig ‘ j : ~ | is! ENS aa
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solid not done withhim., Grip & Gorley have played me an ugly trick, my lad, which I had suspect- ed for some time, but had no evidence of until { received that torn letter. I don’t regret what that cost me.” ‘Then you're a-goin’ for him?’ demanded Ned, eagerly. ‘‘ You’re a-goin’ for him flat- footed? He served me mighty shabby, and I hope you'll pinch him lively.” ‘““T will if [ can, you may be sure. I am thousands of dollars out of pocket through his operations, anil have brought suit against him for fraud and bribery of a Government agent.” ‘Goin’ to make kim squeal?’ asked Ned, eagerly. * That I can’t say,” rejoined the merchant, in atone of doubt. ‘‘ Though I gave a hundred dollars for this piece of paper, it may prove of very little use. Unless I can hunt up some other evidence, I fear I will not be able to prove my case, I would give a thousand for the other half of this letter.” ‘*You would?” cried Ned, his eyes opening Mine ‘‘Willingly.” Mr. Burton looked up at the : boy. ‘*Do you think it possible—” _ To git t’other half? I’m ’feard there won’t ’ ‘be no moré chance than to cotch a ’possum asleep. And old Grip’s a’possum of the worst . But a thousand dollars is worth tryin’ or. ‘‘T should fancy so. There are possibilities, Ned. They made a blunder about this half, Who knows but they may bave blundered about the other? I have no hopes, but it is too im- portant to let go untried.’ ‘‘That’s my notion,” said Ned, in eager en- thusiasm., ‘‘ You mean it solid bout that thou- sand ?” ‘“‘T do. Bring me that paper, and I am on honor to pay you a thousand dollars.” “Tm a-goin’ for it, you bet,” cried Ned, joy- fully. “I moughtn’t get it, and then ag’in I mought. See here, Mr. Burton, can’t you give me a pieceo’ paper jist the size o’that? ’Special- ly the tore e get want to know t’other half when I see it.’ ‘* A good suggestion,” rejoined the merchant, **T see you know what you’re about, my lad,” Taking a whole sheet, he laid the torn sheet upon it, marked out its outlines with pencil, and finally cut it along the pencil marks, tak- ing great amg to get the shape of the torn edge very close y: ‘*There,” he said, ‘‘ that’s your guide, Now what do you intend to do? How about the money you have left out of your five hundred and fifty dollars? Is it safe to carry it about in your pocket?” ‘‘Tve got most four hundred left,” answered Ned. ‘‘ That blow-out made a big hole init. I was goin’ to ax you to take care of it, but I’ve kinder changed my mind. If I’m goin’ for that paper money mought come in handy. Maybe ‘Il have to pay somebody lively for a chance to *vestigate.” ‘* Very true, ‘*T don’t reckon as nob T’ve had my eye-teeth cut,” Well thought of.” y’ll go through me, “ And what are your plans—if you have any?’ asked Mr. Burton. “ Hav’n’t had no time to make none yit. It’s jist *bout this way. Old Grip took that sheet o’ oy aad out of the waste-basket in his office, tore t in half, and flung t’other half back, I see’d him do that. Now maybe it’s there yit.” **No, no; 1 hardly expect that,” ‘Well, then, what does folks do with waste- paper in stores?” . “Tt maybe burnt. I fear the contents of that basket have been. It might be heaped away somewhere, ready to sell to the old paper-deal- ers, It will probably end by going to the paper- mills, [fear you have but a poor chance for your thousand, Ned.” ‘¢ Who sells it to the old paper-man?” ‘¢ Probably the store porter. He would most likely have charge of such matters,” ** All right. at kinder clears the sky, any- how. I’m beginnin’to find out which side of my bread’s buttered.” ly To go k to Philadelphy fu’st of all, and spy ‘round. It’s’bout a week now since I got that paper, and every day counts, WhatI kin come at to-day mought be gone to-morrow,” ‘Very true. You have the right idea,” *“ And I want to take Dick back with me.” ‘What for?” ‘“7Cause he’s as sharp as a steel-trap. Old Grip knows me too well. If he sees me’bout the store he mought smell a big rat. And maybe | he mought snatch ine and lock me up for steal- en POPE AP FO NE eres o_O are the kind of metal I like.” : ‘‘That’s the ticket!” cried Ned, delightedly. ‘‘That’s what I’ve been lookin’ out for this year past. I’ll earn my wages, anyhow, I won't loaf on nobody. ‘There’s one thing more, Mr. Burton, Who’s goin’ to pay the expenses of this business? S’pose we don’t hit it? Meand Dick ain’t got much money to spare.” ‘¢That’s business. I like you all the better for that. I will pay all expenses.” ‘¢Then it’s a bargain. I'll go and hunt up Dick straightaway. He ain’t got no daddy nor mammy, and I reckon there won’t be no trouble with him,” After some further conversation and arrange- ment of details, Ned went in search of his com- panion, He found him at his headquarters at City Hall Park, as busily engaged in polishing the ‘‘ understandings” of a countrified indi- vidual as if he had not lately become a capital- ist. Ned waited quietly till he had finished his ‘* contract,” and then slyly beckoned him away. He had matter of too much moment for the ears of street urchins. ‘¢ Where can we go for a solid chat where no- body’ll hear us? I’ve struck ’ile since i seen you, Dick, and you’re in it.” ‘¢- Yer ain’t sayin’ ther’s some more fun?” cried Dick, eagerly. ‘‘You bet I’m yer hoss, slap from the shoulder, Come ahead. I know where nobody’ll bother us.” He led the way, Ned followin What was the surprise of the Sites to find, on’ reaching their destination, that they were in the identical alley in which the two boys had first struck up an acquaintance. Dick looked at his companion quizzically. **Reckernize the place?” he asked, ‘*T should imagine so.” ‘‘Ther’? won’t nobody bother us here, ‘cept ther’s somebody else in quod up yander,” point- ing to the window whence Ned had first, discov- ered him. ‘If ther’ is we'll yank him out, jist as we yanked you out, Yere’s my box to set on; lll squat on the bricks, Now peg in; ’m a-listenin’,” ?, Ned proceeded to detail the bargain he had made, and the plan he had laid out, Dick listen- ing with the utmost interest. He was sharp enough to take in the details of the scheme with- out repetition. ‘* Tt’s jist jolly!” he shouted, ‘* Will I go in for’t? Well, you bet high. Kin I doit? ell, I guess I kin try. Jist you keep me posted every step, for I’m in for makin’ old Grip howl, And I'd jist as lieve as not peg out fur Philadelfy, *eauso York is gittin’ played out, Folks, nowa- days, is mean enough to ax fur a five-cent shine, The biz ain’t like it used to was, Ther’s too many Dagos gittin’ in it.” ** All right, Dick, If this affair comes out lum up, you can drop your box. You can’t polishin’ shoe-leathe? all your life. You're gettin’ too big for that.” “lve been proud and sassy ever since that blow-out,” rejoined Dick, ‘*Orderin’ around them there servants kinder put me’bove my bizness. I’m ‘feard it’s jist "bout spilt me for a shiner.” ** Tell you what, Dick, I’ve got an idea,” cried Ned, eagerly. ‘‘ Come with me, I like you, and I’m goin’ to hitch hosses with you.” ; ° He sprung up and led the way, Dick follow- ing. His course this time led to the store of Burton & Jones, through which he walked with the step of an owner back to the office, Dick followed with his head as high as if he had the deeds of all New York in his pocket. The two partners were in the office, and looked up in some iow at their visitors. ‘¢ Here’s Dick,” said Ned, as an introduc- tion. * How dye do, Dick?” greeted Mr. Burton. ‘We ain't started over yet.” ef **T see that,” came the answer. “ Goin’ fore night though, I wanted to say somethin’ bout Dick’ first.” ‘‘Very well. Say on.” ** You said you’d take me in the store after Mig this thing through, If it don’t make no difference to you I’d sooner you’d take Dick. He’s got as much go in him as me. I’ve got more education than bim, and can git a Sob somewhere else.” ** See here! whatcher puttia’ through yer” broke in Dick, indignantly. ‘‘ Much you ——— EISEN eee ll do ! that taffy afore? ‘* Nonsense, Dick. I'll have money enough to start business on my own hook.” ‘*Dry up now, won’t you? I hope you don’t think, misters, as I’m on this, ’cause I ain’t. He’s jist sprung iton me. Ifheisa fool, I ain’t a hog, and that settles it.” The merchants looked at each other curiously while this conversation was going on. At its conclusion they burst Into a laugh, ** (too0d for you, Dick!” cried Mr. Jones, ‘* And good for you, Ned,” cried Mr. Bur- ton. ‘' I wonder, Jones, if we couldn’t find two jobs? It would be ashame to part these Siam- ese twins.” ‘We'll find them or make them,” said Jones, ‘* You don’t mean it?” cried Ned, joyfully, ‘¢-Yer ain't foolin’?” exclaimed Dick. ‘‘ We mean every word.” ‘* Bully for you! You bet Ned and me won’t . be no slouches. Come ahead now; let’s peg out for Philadelfy, and put this job through.” ‘* Much obliged, Mr. Burton and Mr. Jones,” re gratefully. ‘‘ We're off now. Good- That night the two boys slept in the good. City of Brotherly Love. CHAPTER XI. DICK IN BUSINESS, ‘¢ THE case is just this,” said Mr, Burton. He was sitting in the office of a United States: Commissioner, in the Federal Court buildings. at Philadelphia. ‘* 1, representing the firm of Burton & Jones,, of New York, put in a bid last winter in re- sponse to an advertisement for a large supply of linens and other goods, to be delivered at the United States Arsenal at Philadelphia, There were several other bids entered, but our only competitor of any importance was the firm of Grip & Gorley, of this city.” ‘*T remember the case. But I do not recol- lect the name of your firm among the bid. ders.” ‘*Hixactly. That is the point in question. Our bid was sent in late. An oversight made it later than it should have been. However, it. was mailed in New York on the second day be- fore the bid closed. The fate of closure was. the 17th October. I mailed the letter myself on the morning of the 15th.” ‘“‘Time enough, I should say. What fol- lowed?” ® ‘Our bid was not acknowledged, and the contract was. given to Grip & Gorley, at a higher figure.” *T see, And your letter?” ‘Came too late, they say. We made strict inquiry, of course, but Jenkins, of the Arsenal. declared that it did not reach him till the 18th,. too late for admission. It had on it the letter-. earrier’s mark, showing that it had been left by mistake at a small down-town drinking-place called ‘The Arsenal.’ This, of course, delayed. its proper delivery.” +s 1, what follows?” ‘“] had some suspicions at the time, but could discover nothing. Inquiry was made at ‘The Arsenal,’ but no one remembered the affair. Then the letter-carrier who had delivered the letter was looked up, He said that Jenkins was right. The letter had been delivered to him, by mistake at the drinking-saloon, ‘ Arsenal,’ and. been returned to him late the nextday. The encil-mark of wrong delivery had been made y him, and was in his own handwriting,” ‘That looks straight enough. I can see ne loose threads there. Is not the fault your own? Or rather is not accident to blame?” oT baci, pte at first, and gave it over to the chapter of awkward accidents. But that was. not the endof thematter. Something happened that opened my eyes.” ‘* Another loose thread, eh?” ‘* Exactly. Business called me a month ago to Grip & Gorley’s store, Whom should I see there, ina somewhat confidential position, but. Joe Starling, the letter-carrier in question. On et gs Ace e Post-Office I learned that he had — been harged for some shady operation six months before. He had, immediately after- ward, been given a position at Grip & Gorley’s,” ‘* A sort of hush-money opening, eh?” ‘I thought so. I knew nothing more, how- — ever, en si few days ago, when this fell into. S. a ren ' e withdrew from his pocket the torn letter, vp and smoothed it out, and handed it to e commissioner, The latter looked at it wit a puzzled expression. r ‘T can make nothing of this,” he said, ‘ “Ig a is addressed to ‘H, Jenkins,’to be sure, Buta.
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rh a a = oe a —_— half-letter, with the signature part torn off, has not much significance,” “The handwriting I cannot be mistaken in,” cried Mr. Burton eagerly. ‘‘ It was written by | Gorley, of Grip & Gorley. Here are others of | his letters, which you may compare,” The commissioner looked them over, “Yes; I think you are right. It is a well- marked handwriting. But what do you make | of these broken lines?” “Wait, sir. This paper has a quite remark- able history. It is better I should tell you that first, since that is one of the main sources of my | suspicions,” He proceeded to tell the story which we have ‘; already told the reader, the commissioner listen- ing with the deepest attention, “Mercy on us! it is quite a romance,” he ejaculated. ‘‘ Everything but pistols and poi- son. I don’t know when I have heard such a story inreallife. I don’t wonder you feel sus- picious. And the Joe that took partin this— was he the former letter-carrier?” ‘* The same,” ‘* Well! the plot thickens. And now, let us get back to the letter. I see some of your points. It contains the name of Jce Starling.” “Yes; and the following broken lines. ‘ You need fear noth—;’ * have made no mist—;’ ‘ sup- pose they do—;’ ‘can prove nothing.’ Now, I should fill those lines out somewhat as follows: “You need fear nothing from any carelessness on our part;’‘ we have made no mistakes, and will make none.’ ‘Suppose they do suspect something wrong, they can prove nothing,’ ‘ Joe Starling is safe; his tongue is tied.’ I take it from this that Jenkins was bribed tohold back our letter, and did it by this neat scheme with the aid of the letter-carrier. Jenkins may have heard something of our inquiries, which were renewed lately, have got nervous, and have written to Grip & Gorleyto knowif they had suf- ficiently covered up their tracks, This is partof | their reply. Jenkins is in San Francisco now, and could communicate only by letter.” ‘*Tt looks as if you were right, Mr. Burton,” answered the commissioner. ‘‘ Yet a court of law doesn’t deal with theories, and, strong as your presumption is, the actual evidence you have to bring is really very little,” ‘* Does it seem so to you?” inquired Mr, Bur- ton, in a tone of disappointment. ‘Yes. Look at the facts. The evidence of the wrong delivery of the letter cannot well be ot over,if thecarrier sticks to his story—which i! will. Y wcan only say then that the carrier was discharged for some looseness, that he got a position with Grip & Gorley, and that they wrote | a letter to Jenkins with some doubtful half lines, Not a very strong case is this to sustain so grave acharge.” ; ‘“ Why did they try so hard to recover the letter?” ‘*That is suspicious—very suspicious—no doubt. You have stron But I doubt very much if you could get a ver- dict in your favor on this evidence, If Starling could be only got to confess—but there is little hope of that. Or,if you could obtain the miss- ing half of this letter.” **T have thought of that, you may be sure,” said Mr. Burton. “I have my two young | scouts, Ned and Dick, on the track of that miss- ing half. They will find it, if it is to be found. I have great confidence in them.” ** You have reason for that. They seem to be thoroughly wide-awake. The young rascals ap- pear to be a match for Grip himself, and he has no small reputation for sharpness.” resumptive evidence, “If they a 4 up to their record Grip will be distanced. I shall have some more adventures to tell you.” ‘Very likely. Very likely, indeed.” Ten minutes afterward, his business with the commissioner ended, Mr, Burton emerged on | Chestnut street, and walked up that crowded thoroughfare. The look of hope that marked his face became doubt as he went on. It ceme inte ne nda he a cpaoee ae reese _ the ys’ adventure | yv ight, and that he bad been building highly on mgt narrow foundation. ‘¢ Well, there’s no use to get down-hearted,” he said, ‘We'll be no worse off than before. It to squeeze those confounded He turned toward the door of a restaurant, it being about bis dinner hour. **Hillo! Well, who’d ’spected to run afoul o’ yon plone here!” came froma youthful voice be- im. He turned to behold the intelligent and beam- ing face of Ned Norman. ~. What! it is you, my boy!” ! is not the money I care for, but I do want badly Got some ‘*T reckon ’tain’t vaste shorter, ‘ain’t much, but it’s thin’ to tell you, too, ’ somethin’,” ‘* Come in here, then. Have you had dinner?” ‘Nothin’ but a bananner. But ain’t that | place too tony fer me?” looking down at his at- tire. ‘*No; you look respectable in the new suit | which Mr. Grip was kind enough to buy for you,” answered **Come, we'll dine and talk at the same time,” Nothing loth, Ned followed, Selectinga table out of easy hearing of other guests, Mr, Burton gave his order, ** Now, Ned, while we’re waiting, let me know what you have done,” Ned burst into a hearty laugh, which made several of the nearer guests turn their-heads. ‘* It’s jist prime the way Dick’s been doin’ it,” he exclaimed, gayly. ‘‘Why, he’s shoeblack general for all Grip & Gorley’s. He brung hiskit 0’ brushes over, and him and me laid it out that he was to play that dodge, He's took there, Dick has, Ue blacked up old Grip yesterday, and done halt a dozen jobs in the store.” “Very good.. Anything else?” “Why, he got his eye on that waste basket. I set him up on that, you know, so he couldn” lose no time. The basket was empty. There weren’t hardly nothin’ in it.” **T see. Wait a minute. dinner.” A waiter bustled up withan abundant display of dishes and hastened to deposit his freight of viands before his waiting guests. Ned kept quiet till he had finished and departed to fill some further order,’ **Now you may go on,” said Mr, Burton. ‘*There ain’t much more; but what's left is the best, like pie and puddin’ after dinner. Dick scraped hisself in with the store portcr, as I told him, and got mighty curious to know what become of all their waste. He’d got a no- tion to go into business with ‘an old paper man, he said, and was lookin’ up jobs.” ‘¢ 4 very good move in Dick,” ‘* Coulan’t have theirs, the porter said. Been sellin’ to one old feller for years. The old chap come round every week with his bag and cleaned ’em out, He’d jist been there a day or two afore. He come every Weencneny ic ‘* So; then our paper has been in his hands for more thana week. ‘That looks bad.” ‘“*He moughtn’t sell out till be gits a pile,” suggested Ned, ‘‘ Anyhow, Dick found out where the old feller’s place1is, Said he’d like to see him. Mought git a better offer trom him than from t’other one. Cute in Dick, wasn’t it?” **Tt was that.” **Oh, Dick’s a snoozer! I never seen a chap of his size that’s gotso much grit and brains. Couldn’t done it better myself,” Mr. Burton laughed at the unconscious egotism of his young companion. **You are going on very well,” he said. ** Now finish your dinner, before it gets cold. We can end our talk afterward.” As may be imagined, Ned did not hesitate to obey this suggestion. Not another word, ex- cept some expressions of satisfaction, came from his lips till he had finished a profuse and very good meal, quite distancing Mr. Burton in the matter of appetite, ‘‘ Are you done, Ned? Will you have any- thing more?” he inquired. ‘You can’t put no more in a freight-car than it'll hold,” answered Ned. ‘TI reckon I'd best stop ’fore the roof bu’sts off.” ‘* Well, then, to business, Suppose you finish your story” — ‘* It’s bout finished now. There’s one thing I didn’t tell you, though. Somebody from Grip’s was up to where I live, axing all sorts 0’ ques- tions bout me from granddad, Dunno what he wanted, ’cept to git hold o’ me and put me out the way. But granddad ain’t no fool, nary time, and the chap didn’t git much ’cept tongue slack, I ain’t stayin’ home now, since I heerd that. ’Tain’t safe.” “‘ Perhaps not. You can’t be too cautious.” ‘‘Me and Dick’s going this afternoon down to the old paper wan, He’s out roundin’ now, but he'll be in bout four or five o’clock. We want to look over his stock. Maybe he'll kick ag’in’ it; but I reckon a five-dollar greenback’ll fetch him ” Here comes our ‘Tf it won’t, make it ten, or even twenty. And take care not todethim know what you are after.” “Do you see anything eet there?” queried Ned, pulling down his eyelid. ‘I ain’t goin’ to lie to him, but if Dick ey nt to stretch a bit, that’s Dick’s business, If I fork over lively I reckon that’s all the old coon’ll ax for.” Mr. Burton, with a laugh. | ed Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. Se ee Se Se ee ee ee ee ee “ tf Grip hasn’t burnt that paper, and the paper- dealer has not sold out his stock, there may be ‘Very likely,” answered Mr, Burton. some chance, I am staying at the Continental, Ned. You will find me in tho vestibule there at ten to-morrow, Come there and report,” ‘* [ll do that,” answered Ned, rising and push- ing back his chair, ‘‘Now I guess I best go hunt up Dick.” CHAPTER XII, THE OLD PAPER DEALER, Ir was a squalid and miserable-looking den in which old Jack Brownson, the waste-paper- dealer, dwelt and stored his accumulations, A tumble-down frame building, a century old, of which two small rooms served him for living, eating, and sleeping accommodations, while the remaining rooms were stored with the product of his daily rounds, In the late afternoon of the day in which Ned had dined with Mr, Burton, he, with his con- federate, Dick, might have been seen in the living room of this old fellow, who had recently entered from his daily round. He was a wrinkled, grizzled, bent old chap, blind of one eye, and with stiffened and rheu- matic joints. His bag, filled with the day’s gatherings, served him as a rest, as he leaned back on an old settee, ‘* Well, youngsters,” he queried, with a voice like a cracked fish-horn, ‘‘ what yer want with old Jack, hey?” ‘* Why, us boys has got a queer notion in our heads, that’s all,” answered Ned, ‘Yer ain’t the fu’st boys I’ve see’d with a queer notion in the’r heads,” rejoined the old fellow, with a cackling laugh. ‘‘Some of ’em git cracked notions,” ‘*Me and Dick’s on the make, we are,” con- tinued Ned. ‘‘ Now, see here, Mr. Brownson—” , ‘*Noneo’that now. Don’t go the perlite on me, Call me old Jack, like everybody does, or else git. Don’t b’lieve in no puttin’ on airs.” ‘““Don’t you never hiton nothin’ rich ’mong all them scraps which you pick up in stores? Money, or di’monds, or other things that’s worth money {” ‘““What you arter, anyhow, young feller? S’pose I did, wouldn’t I take it right back? Course I would. Anybody as says as old Jack ain’t honest—” He completed his sentence with a blow from his fist upon the wall, as if to indi- cate what would happen to the questioner of his honesty. Yet there was a crafty look in his wrinkled eyes that was, at the least, doubtful. ‘*But s’pose them papers got mixed, and no- body couldn't tell where they came from?” broke in Dick. ‘*That’s a case as ain’t come up. I allers wait fur cases to come up, ‘fore I answer ’em.” ‘*Tell yer what, old Jack, we ain’t quite as bilin’ over honest as you,” continued Dick, ‘* Ain’t yer? That’s bad, boy, Sorry ter hear that.” The old man shook his head gravely. ‘* And, what’s more,” broke in Ned,‘' we’re on the make, What’ll you take and let us go ye al yourypile of old paper, us to keep all we nD ‘¢ Jist so: findin’s keepin’s,” added Dick. ‘Wal, now,” drawled old Jack, looking at them curiously, ‘‘ ye’ro the fu’st boys as ever come that dodge. My, what cute boys ye are! ‘* We've made some money, me and Dick has, and we want to make our pile bigger. So we jist set down and calculated chances, and we hit on the old paper dodge. See here, old Jack, wie: pive you a dollar to go through your iles. ‘* And findin’s keepin’s,” repeated Dick, The old man’s eyes twinkled cunningly, ‘* Ever do this afore, youngsters?” ‘*Reckon we have,” answered Dick, ‘ but ain’t struck ile yit. Kinder out of pocket, we are, But we’re goin’ ter keep her up till we come out square or hit a pile,” ‘* Wal, yer can’t go through my pile.” “ Wecan’t? Why?’ asked Ned, disappoint- ‘* Not fur no dollar.” **Oh! bow much do you want?” ‘* Lay down two dollars, and I mought talk,” ** How’s that, Dick? Pretty steep, isn’t it?’ : We beans steep,” echoed Dick, shaking his. ea . * Don’t play on us, old Jack, We ain’t no» capitalists. : ‘ Jist think how many shines ther’ is in two- dollars. Why, it’d take a whole ’rithmetic to calkerlate them,” remarked Dick. »
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12 ’ Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. Tt ‘Two dollars. Narya cent less,” **S’pose we'd best go it, Dick?” ‘*€ Ain’t got no sich pile left, have we?” ** Mought scrape up that much, maybe.” * Let's go in then, and bu’st ourselves or make our pile,’ ‘*Here’s the stuff,” said Ned, taking the money from his pocket with great show of re- luctance, ‘I tell yow it’s risky.” ‘** You mought pick up a diamond bracelet or a huandred-dollar gold-piece or somethin’,” re- sponded the old man, eagerly clutching the bank-notes, He was very sure they would find nothing of the kind, for he did not fail to thoroughly search every bag of waste he gathered for possible treasure. “That's biz,” cried Dick, ‘‘ And findin’skeep- in’s, mind. Guess we’d best peg in.” ‘* How many weeks’ pickings have you got on hand?” asked ‘Ned. ‘Bout two or three.” “That ought to make a big heap.” **’Tain’t a very little one.” ‘* Then pat us on it.” ** Wait a bit, boys. Ther’s somebody ahead “s you. Ye’re not ther only chaps as is on this ay.’ a Come, now; that ain’t square,” ejaculated ick. ‘** He ain’t arter money. He’s only arter abit o’ paper. Don’t 8’pose I’d play no game on two honest little boys? Yer don’t know old Jack, yer don’t. Wait; he’s goin’.” He rose from his couch and hobbled from the room. A step was audible on the stairs outside, The voices of two men could next be heard. One of these seemed to rouse Dick as if a pin had been thrust into him, He sprung up and stole softly to the door, which had been left a crack ajar. He signaled knowingly to Ned as he passed, The voices continued for a minute more. Then the front door opened. Dick stole back to Ned, with a look of deep meaning on his face, **T couldn’t only see his back,” besaid, ‘* but I tell you he talks like Jake, the porter at Grip & Goriey’s. Wonder what he’s arter? Couldn’t vatch nothin’ ’cept somethin’ ’bout a paper.” ‘* Paper!? cried Ned, starting up hastily. ‘*That’s queer. Maybe we'd best foller him,” “Tell yer what, Ned: let me foller him, an’ you go through the pile. If he’s got it, it’s too late to go back to ther store. Vl track him down, an’ meet you at ther old place,” Good! After him at once, afore he gets off.” Old Jack at this moment returned to the room. Dick hurried past him, and the next moment the front door was heard to slam loud- ly behind him. The old man looked suspiciously at the remaining boy. “What ails him? asked. ‘* He forgot something that he has to do, and he’s got to burry, or he'll be too late. Vil go ahead with the old paper while he’s gone.” ‘* None o’ yer shenanigan,” grumbled old Jack, ‘*T reckon it’s you that’s playin’ on us,” re- joined Ned, angrily. ‘*I don’t mind tellin’ you that that’s what took Dick, You sold us the right to everything that’s in them old papers, and here’s somebody goin’ through ’em jist at that same minute. Dick’s goin’ to foller him an’ see what he’s got. If he’s found anything you’ve got to hand back them two dollars. You can’t play that game on us,” ‘*Now, look yere, boy, yer don’t think old Jack’d do that? I tell yer it was only a bit of paper he wanted.” ‘* 4 bito’? paper? That’s too thin!” cried Ned, scornfully. ‘* What sort of a bit o’ paper?” * Why, as long’s it’s you I mougbt let you in- ter it,” rejoined the old man, reseating himself, and leanmg comfortably against his bag of paper, ‘‘Squat down, and I'll tell you, It’s sorter queer, but ther’ will be queer things some- times,’ Ned seated himself, eager to hearthe old man’s story, anc hopeful that it would lead to some- thing useful to himself, “This man’s a porter in’ a store,” began old Jack. ‘‘’Taip’t no odds to you what store, *cept that it’s one o’ my reg’lars, *Bout a week ago I bought up their scrap, and fotched it home, and emptied it in my pile up-stairs. That same night this chap come down yere sorter nervous. He said ther’ were something loose up at the store. Wal, he picked out some o’ the stuff and poked it away under a shelf, and axed me to keep it fur him. The old mand been growlin’ ’bout some waste outer his basket that oughtn’t ter been took, he said, Where’s he gone?” he gt AL ae ald Pes GS jeg er dare Sha cae Ut i OU ROT S| SIT EN Nn A IY WAT! nae —_—_—_oO hl OO nn ~ ath. aes =< he didn’t want ter git his head inter no ole. ‘* 1 see,” said Ned, his eyes sparkling at this information, ‘‘ And what brought him here to- night?” “Ther’s been somethin’ of a row, I jedge. Anyhow, he come down ter look arter them papers, an’ it’s likely he tuk what he wanted.” Ned looked at the old fellow with an aspect of doubt. He had laid out in his mind the course to pursue, ** You don’t reckon I’m goin’ to swaller that mighty thin yarn?’ he remarked, ‘Lor’ bless yer, boy! what’d I want ter humbug youtur? Como and see fur yerself,” He led the way to a room on the second floor, one side of which was occupied by a huge beap of waste+paper. » Under a shelf onthe otber side was a small parcel which looked as if it bad been torn asunder and scattered. Ned fell on his knees and rapidly ran his fingers through the heap, There was nothing there resembling the paper he sought, ‘is that what me and Dick elected to go through?’ he asked, pointing to the great heap. ** Yes, and ther’s more in ther next room.” ‘€) ain’t goin’ to tackle that job ’thout Dick. It’s too big a contract. Reckon Dll go hunt up Dick and fetch him back, He’s arter that porter. Got any notion where he’ll find him?” ‘*T calculate I could put my hand on him an’not half try,” answered the old man, with his cackling laugh. ‘‘ He won’t go back to no store this night. Nor he won’t go straight home, neither. Jake allers stops at Harry Hale’s ‘ Half-way House.’ He can’t never git past there ’thout stoppin’ fur his jorum of ale, and his crack ower the glass.” ‘“That’s where I'l find Dick, then. Vil ‘go after him, and we’ll come back and try our luck, Where’bouts is Harry Hale’s?” ‘*Lor’ bless you, everybody knows that ! Jist you go down Seventh to the second corner below. Then turnup toward Eighth, and you'll find it half-way in the square. Ax anybody round there,” ** ll find it,” said Ned, confidently. ** And come back soon, if ye’r’ comin’, ‘cause *tain’t fur off from dark.” ‘* All right,” answered Ned, hurrying to the stairs with very little thought of coming back atell. if what he had heard was to be trusted, there was no use to search old Jack’s pile. Their game Jay in another direction and must be run down quickly, or all was lost, Leaving the house, Ned followed the direc- tions given him, and was not iong in discover- ing the establishment to which he had been directed. There stood out the sign: “ Hatrway House; by Harry Hale,” on thenorth side of a none too reputable street. He could hear the sound of voices and the rat- tle of glasses within the saloon. The window was partly raised, and he looked in, At the bar stood a group of three or four men, who seemed- somewhat boozy, Of the tables around the room only one was occupied, but the occupants of that brought a gleam ofin- telligence from Ned’s eyes. “Bully for Dick!” he said, to himself, ‘*‘Ifhe ain’t cute, they don’t make ’em,” This table was immediately under the window at which he stood, At oue end of itsat Jake, the porter at Grip & Gorley’s. At the side, opposite him, sat Dick, hobrob- bing with the porter. There were two glasses of ale and a brace of sandwiches on the tabla, and Dick seemed quite able to do his duty at both. He was engaged in a lively talk with his friend, the porter. ‘*T tell you what—” he began. He stopped with a quick start. He had at that instant caught sight of Ned’s face at the window, ** What is the matter with you?” ‘*The mustard on them there sandwiches is too lively, that’s all, I like things hot, but I don’t like em red-hot.” _Jake laughed heartily. At the same moment | Ned made a meaning signal to his confederate. ‘*-Y our throat ain’t case hardened yet, young- “ You’llebe able to swallow But, what was you ster,” said Jake. boilin’ brimstone in time. goin’ to tel] me?”" ‘‘ Jist that I don’t back down for nobody. Maybeyou’ve got more in yer pocket nor I have, but J don’t b’lieve no sich taffy, and I'll show up if you dare,” e drew a handful of small articles from one : ! = ee Piste rae eee ARSE EET LATE tel Bini pocket as he spoke and slammed them down on the table. ‘‘The ale’s gettin’ into your head, boy,” said Jake, still laughing. ‘‘ Allright You match them, and I'll fish up another lot.” Jake, amused at the challenge of the boy, and willing to try his mettle, thrust his hand into one pocket, and pulled out a knife, some bits of twine, and other small articles, which he laid beside Dick’s. ‘“‘Come on,” said Dick gleefully. “‘I’ll make you dig deeper nor that.” ; i The match was now fairly on, and in a little time the table was strewn with the contents of their pockets, Jake was too fully occupied to notice the face at the window, which was eager- ly peering in at this game, Ned had taken the time, however, to pencil some hasty words ona piece of paper, which be held folded up in his hand. He saw through Dick’s game and was waiting his chances. The last pocket which Jake emptied contained nothing but a bandkerchief anda torn sheet of paper, closely resembling that which Ned held in bis hand, The onlooker’s eyes now sparkled more brightly than ever. ‘ Dick caught a look and a sign from his con- federate. An awkward movement of his el- bow swept a portion of Jake’s articles from the table. “There they go!” he cried; “‘catch ’em, Jake,” They both hastily stooped to the floor, The men at the counter looked around for an in- stant, then turned to their talk again. Had they looked longer, they would have seen a hand and arm dart hastily into the open win- dow, seize the paper Jake had laid cn the table and leave another folded the same way in its place, and as hastily withdraw. Dick, on ris- ing, caught a look of triumph from his con- federate, as Ned’s face vanished fronr the win- dow. An hour afterward they met at their appoint- ed rendezvous. “ What luck? Strike ile?” asked Dick eager- Yi You bet. Did Jake suspect?” ‘‘No. He.rammed it back io his pocket, I tell you, we played that cute. Ther’ ain’t no flies on us, crony.” CHAPTER XIII, THE TWO HALVES OF THE LETTER, ‘“‘T HaRDLY think that was judicious,” said Grip to Gorley, as the two partners sat in their private office. _ ‘*Why not? It looked to me like a good move, If we get that back the game’s in our own hands, and we can snap our fingers at Burton.” ‘*1¢ was as safe there as here, Jake to suspecting something shady, sure to read it, too.” ‘*He can make nothing out of it if he does. It takes the two halves to make a whole in this business as it does iu most others. When Joe told me yesterday that Jake bad said that he had got the old paper-man to lay our waste- paper aside, in case of inquiry, if made me a trifle nervous. Waste laid aside might fall in- to the wrong hands. have the paper back in ourown, so I described it to Jake and told him to go get it.” “You're losing your hold, old fellow,” said Grip, shaking bis head, ‘* Your nerves are go- ing back on you. Why, there was no more chance of that paper getting from the old man’s truck into Burton’s hands than there is for a man’s jumping to the moon.” ‘*T don’t know about’ that. Queer things often happen, lf is best in our own hands, anyway, as Jong as Burton has taken decided steps, By the way, it is pretty near the hour for the meeting before the commissioner, as arranged. Teno’clock was the time fixed, you know,” C “Whereis Jake? He is three hours behind time this morning.” ‘*He had an errand at Manayunk, and was told to. go there before coming to the store, He should be back by this time.” He opened the door and called: “ce Joe 1?) Joe burried up in response. ‘See if the porter is here yet. If so, send him to the office.” a Joe returned in a minute with the informa- tion that he had not yet put in an appearance, ‘Very well,, When he comes, send him to the United States Court rooms, over the post- office. Room/Number 2. V’e will be there. And you put He’ll be I thoughtit best we should‘
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- Burton, decidedly. Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. 13 Come with him yourself, for fear he may not find the place.” ‘ “* Very well, sir. I'll bring him.” Taking their hats the worthy pair left the office, and proceeded with an aspect of mer- cantile virtue and probity into the street. No one to look at them would have supposed them capable of doing anything out of the strictest line of business, Unluckily, looks do not al- ways tell the truth. ot many minutes afterward, Ned Norman, accompanied by his associate, Dick, entered the vestibule of the Continental Hotel. It was the hour at which he had appointed to meet Mr. Burton, yet that gentleman was nowhere visi- ble. ‘s Where has he gone to?” queried Ned, with an air of disappointment, ‘Ten o'clock he said, and ’tain’t more than five minutes after. That ain’t business.” ‘- J guess he’s somewhere round the diggin’s,” suggested Dick, ‘ Let’s scout round a bit and we'll rake him out.” They tried the bar-room, the reading-room, the billiard-room, but no sign of Mr. Burton was to be seen, ‘*Maybe he thinks it’s ten up to half-past,” remarked Ned, ‘ Let’s sit down and wait a bit. 1 dunno as we're in no hurry.” Sitting and waiting, however, was too irksome a business for any one so activeas Dick. Ten minutes gave him enough of that, and he bounc- ed up with the exclamation: ‘* How d’ye know but he’s left word with the clerk? . That’s what folks do when they’ve got ’zagements with gen’lemen as they can’t keep. Lm goin’ to ax, anyhow,” He darted across to the clerk’s desk, had some words with that important functionary, and re- turned with a folded slip of paper in his hand and a look of triumph on his face. ‘Guess I didn’t dig in fat that time! He’s had ter go out, and has lefta note fur you. Here %is; read it; my eddication stopped short o’ readin’ writin’,” : Ned urfolded the slip and quickly made him- self master of its contents. ‘Mr, Burton is going to be at room Number Two, over the Post-office, to meet Grip & Gor- ley and talk thingsover. He axes me to come down there if I’ve got anything for him. If I ain’t, I needn’t come,” “Then I guess you'll go sailin’ down there the straightest kind of a streak,” rejoined Dick, with a meaning look, ‘If youand me ain’t hit nothin’ ther’s no use in’, We ain’t no slouches, nary time.” “Wait till old Grip opens that paper that Jake’s a-takin’ him, I’d give somethin’ nice to see him when he peeps into it, If he don’t dance, itll be queer.” ** You didn’t wrap up no bumble-bee in it?” “Maybe I didn’t; but [ put somethin’ with a mighty sharp Ai | in it, now, you bet.” The boys had left the hotel and were proceed- ing to the point indicated. Meanwhile the contestants were presenting the leading points of their case before the United States Commissioner, who had. asked them to come to bis office with the pu of trying to settle their dispute by arbitration. e was fully satisfied, from what Burton had told him, both that Grip & Gorley had been guilty of a rascally trick, and that Burton & Jones had no ¢ase that would stand in court. The evidence was good as far as it went, but it did not go far enough. That, at least, was his opinion. Under these circumstances he deemed it the duty of Burton to seek to arbitrate be- tween them, and had pro to do so, The conversation between the contestants and the commissioner had proceeded about half an hour. * Gentlemen,” remarked the commissioner, at length, with some disappointment of tone, “vou are. of course aware that I have no authority in this matter asit stands to-day. I have only asked you to come here out of a pure desire to promote peace and harmony. If you refuse arbitration, there is nothing further for me to say. 1 can only remark to Mr. Burton that, however strongly thecase may present itself to his mind, it Will have no standing in court, and that a suit would be a useless expense to both parties.” “T am not so sure of that,” answered Mr. } Of course that is your opinion, Mr. Smith. But it is only an opinion, and I venture to match mine eatist it. The ae of accideats, you know, is in my favor. There was a look upon his face that attracted Mr.Grip’s attention. He w to his part- ner: ‘¢ What does he mean?” ‘*Only bounce. Nothing else,” ‘* We have no desire to fight,” remarked Mr. Grip. ‘*‘ Not that we're afraid of a fight, for the | whole affair is simply too ridiculous to be no- | ticed. Our business standing is solid enough , not to be hurt by anything that Mr. Burton can | 9, i do. Still—” 6 was interrupted at this point by the en- trance of two persons into the room. They were his employés, Joe and Jake. The latter | walked over to his employer and handed him a folded paper. ‘This is the document you asked me to bring,” he said. A flash of triumph shot from Grip’s eyes. The somewhat humble look he had assumed changed to one of haughtiness and hostility. He thrust the paper into his pocket, with a | meaning look at his partner, and continued his remarks in a different tone. Evidently the pos- session of this paper had made him combative. ‘* Still, as I was about to say,” he remarked, ‘*T wish to give Messrs. Burton & Jones fairand full notice that if they want to fight, Grip & Gorley are ready to give them all the fight they can stomach, And what’s more, if they should indulge in any libelous remarks about us, there will be a suit for damages in about the shortest time possible. We don’t intend to stand their lying slanders,” ‘* Those are my sentiments exactly,” chimed in Gorley. ‘I quite agree with Mr. Grip.” Mr. Burton and the commissioner looked at the speakers in surprise. Their tone had aah eee remarkably since receiving the paper | which had just been brought them. at bearing had this r on the case? Could it be the missing half of the letter? Their sudden confidence Fadicated that such was the fact, Mr. Burton, however, was not to be thrown off his track by bluster. ‘‘ Very well, gentlemen,” he said. ‘ You have your remedy, of course, It is quite pro- bable I may talk. I am very shies 3 that you should bring a suit for damages, Whether you will get them is quite another question, I think { can show, to the satisfaction of any court in the land, that you have played us an ugly trick. I will not say a criminal one, but you ee allow me the privilege of thinking what I ease. ‘“You had better not say it,” cried Gorley, springing to his feet angrily, ‘‘ If you do, I—” ‘¢ Well, what will you do?’ rejoined Mr, Bur- ton, rising and confronting him, ‘* Gentlemen! gentlemen!” exclaimed the com- missioner, ‘'no more of this, I beg pots, “Sit down, Gorley,” cried Gr p.- ‘Don’t play the fool. We will do our fi hting by law, not with fists. Don’t you see,” he whispered, ‘*that we hold the winning hand? Keep your temper, or you'll make mischief,” At this instant the door opened again and two more persons entered. They were our youthful friends Ned and Dick. Ned cast his eyes curiously around the room, taking in all persons present. A look of sig- nificant meaning came into his eyes as they met the regard of Mr. Burton. What do you want, boys?” asked the com- secrete ‘ Jist_a word or two with Mr. Burton,” an- swered Ned, ; ak Mr. Burton crossed to him, and a whispered conversation took place, Ned producing some- thing from his pocket and placing it in the hands of the merchant. The latter opened what eee to be a closely-rolled and much- eran ed piece of paper, and quickly perused the lines of writing upon it. is eyes lit up as be did so with a veritable flash of triumph. Grip watched this by-play with the keenest scrutiny. What to make of it he did not know. A moment’s reflection, however, gave him an idea of what had occurred, Burton had talked much about the half-letter, but had not shown it, Was this it? Had he only now received it from the boy? Such must be the case, for he was very sure that his own fingers were at that moment touching the other half in his pocket. Leaving the boys, Mr. Burton walked up to the commissioner. “Read that,” he said briefly, placing the pa- r in his hand. iis Ps Smith did so, his eyes opening wide with surprise. “This quite alters the case,” he exclaimed. “Gentlemen, I have no more to say, I re- marked a while ago that Mr, Burton had no evidence that would stand inlaw. I withdraw that remark. The half-letter is a whole letter now, and I strongly advise him to bring suit.” peBe Os SYS SE as a oS es ee ee o ‘“‘What do you mean?” cried Grip, hotly.. ‘* Let me see that paper!” ‘‘Ttis placed in my charge. I cannot show’ it to anybody without Mr, Burton’s consent.” _ ‘‘ You say the half-letter is a whole letter, I challenge that assertion. What you have there: is a forgery got up to injure us, I can prove that very quickly, for 1 happen to have the missing half of the letter in my pocket.” He produced his supposed prize and waved it: triumphantly in the air, ‘*T don’t know what you have there, But see here; do you recognize this handwriting! Is this signature known to you?” Mr. Burton took the letter from the commis-~ sioner’s hand, and held it before Grip’s face. The latter turned deathly pale and staggered) back. Then he hastily drew from his pocket. the sheet he had just received, opened it out, and quickly perused it. His pallor was succeeded by a red flush of! fury. ‘Perdition!’ be cried, ‘*That bcy! By alli that’s good, I’ll strangle him!” The paper fell from his hands as he made a. wild rush for Ned, who was keenly watching him, and who as quickly flung open the door and fled from the room, The infuriated merchant followed, while Dick: came close upon his heels, The otherg ran to the door, It was quickly evident that no barm was likely to come to Ned. He had reached the stairs and was flying: down them two steps to Grip’s one, ‘* What is in this paper to make such a scene?” remarked Mr, Smith, picking the sheet from the floor, and running his eyes over ite contents, ** Read it out,” cried Burton. “Tt is a curious document, I don't under- stand it, nor the effect it had. This is what it says: ‘** Sold! Guess I’m even with you for pilin’ them pee. Next time you hire a boy fora Job, pay m. ED.’ ‘* What does this mean, Mr, Gorley?” ‘¢ Tt means that ’ll help Grip to kill that in- fernal boy!” yelled Gorley, in a violent outburst. of passion, as be rushed from the room after his. partner. ‘*Come, Mr. Burton, we had better be in at the death,” cried Mr, Smith, following with all In a moment the room was empty. Ifit had been Ned’s purpose to create a sensation, be had. certainly succeeded. CHAPTER XIV. THE END OF THE GAME. THE fleeing boy was not so safe as he antici-- ated, At the foot of the stairs he stumbled and’ ell. Before he could scramble to his feet again: his foe waa close upon him, with a face: blazing: with murderous A “Dl kill you! Pll kill you!” he hissed be- tween his set teeth. For the moment he was. full of tigerish rage, It would have gone hard with Ned but that: he had a friend at hand, Dick had nimbly fol- lowed the flying pair, and was at this instant: close upon Grip’s heels. Seeing Ned’s danger,, and hearing the exclamation of his infuriated: ursuer, Dick felt that there must be something cone and that be must do it, With a leap like that of a hound, the agile youngster sprung from the stair-step upon which: e stood, and lit between Grip’s’ shoulders just as he was reaching out to grasp Ned, who was: scrambling to his feet. The impetus, added to his former speed, sent: Grip flying headlong forward, with such force that his head struck like a cannon-ball against the opposite wall, Down he came, stunned and: helpless. Dick lit on his feet like a cat, and with an; elfish laugh, he cried: ** Come ahead, crony! Let’s git! I’ve salted his hide, but Gorley’s a-comin’, I dunno what you writ, but two madder men than them is I never see’d,” Away they went, down a second flight, and’ to the street below. When the remainder of the party reached the scene of tbis incident, the boys had vanished, and all they saw was the prostrate form of the defeated pursuer, stretched motionless, and seemingly lifeless, upon the floor. He was not dead, however, as was soon. peor for he quickly recovered, and withdrew n a sadly-discomfited state with his partner, while Mr, Burton and the commissioner re- turned to the room of the latter. What followed may be more briefly told. An hour afterward Mr, Burton returned to the
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Ned Norman, the Gamin Negotiator. ‘hotel. parently waiting for him, and with faces full of gleeful triumph, **Good!” he said. At the door he beheld the two boys, ap- ‘“*T wanted to see you, Come to my room. I would like to know how you did it. There’s a mystery I can’t make out.’ ‘Bout that paper Grip had?” ‘Yes, It is the very paper I gave you to ‘measure with. What have you been doing? W hat does it all mean?” ‘Tt means jist the cutest trick ever you heerd tell of,” exclaimed Ned, bursting into a hearty laugh. ‘*I wonderif old Grip wants any more bricks piled? Got my pay tor the fu’st job, but it took hard squeezin’.’ ‘¢T doubt if he will hire you again, or for the same wages,” rejoined Mr. Burton, pleasantly, Taking the elevator, they proceeded to his room. ‘*Tell me all about it now,” he said, when they were seated. : The boys proceeded, with much glee, to describe their recent adventures, Mr. Burton listening with the most earnest attention, and many expressions of approval, “There is something I can’t quite make clear,” he remarked. ‘* How came the porter to ‘be searching for that paper?” ‘‘T kin tell you,” responded Dick, eagerly. *‘He blabbed ther whole biz to me, It’s jist "bout this size: Arter he guv Ned that paper I reckon ther’ was a kinder row %tween Grip & Gorley, and they wanted ter burn t’other half, But ther’ weren’t nothin’ in ther basket, fur Jake had jist cleaned out and sold all ther old paper. They cussed a little, I guess, and Joe told Jake ’bout the row, so Jake went down ter old Jack’s and picked out them apers and axed him ter save’em, ’cause how her’ were a kick-up ’bout’em, Yisterday ther’ was some more slack, and Jake told Gorley as ther papers was all right, Then Gorley told Jake what sorter paper he wanted, and sent him down arter it. That’s how Jake cum’ there,” concluded Dick, finishing the longest speech he ‘had made in his life, ‘*Tt looks asif the hand of Providence were in it,” rejoined Mr. Burton, “It is a remark- able chapter of accidents. But goon, I have yet to learn the best of thestory; how you man- aged to get the treasure out of Jake’s pocket, and get your decoy paper in.” ‘My eyes, but that was cute,” laughed Dick. “‘Ned done that, and Ned's mighty spry, now, you bet!” “We done it together, is my notion,” re- eg Ned. ‘*It took us both ;’ but we did rub it in lively on Jake, that’s sure.” He continued with his interrupted story, re- lating how Dick had challenged Jake to a ‘show up” of the contents of their respective ockets, and how he, seeing the op ity of-- fered him, had exchanged the papers, first writ- ing on his the words which had so excited the wrath of the humbugged Grip. ‘¢ And Jake never melted to it,” broke in Dick, ‘* fe beat me in the show-up. He had more in his pockets nor | had, He got the laugh on me when he rammed ther stuff back. e didn’t twig nothin’, he didn’t, You bet I were laugh- in’, too, but ’twas inside,” Dick laughed heartily ‘‘ outside” at the recol- lection, A few words more sufficed to finish the story, and to put Mr. Burton in possession of all the facts of the case, At the end of their conversation Mr. Burton opened his pocketbook, extracted a twenty-dol- Jar-bill, and laid it on the table. ** This will pay your expenses,” he said. Ned opened his eyes widely. ‘* Why, Mr, Burton, lars,” he exclaimed, though Dick was punching him vigorously to make him hold his tongue. ‘¢ Expenses and wages, I should have said,” re-. oined the merchant. ‘‘ You have been working or me for a week past, I don’t expect you to work for nothing. Take this and enjoy your- selves for a while, You've earned some enjoy- ment, When you get tired come to my store In New York, and I will have some further talk with you. I am going back by an early train ' this afternoon, as I have finished the business that brought me to Philadelphia. Finished it very favorably,” he continued, with asignificant smile, ‘‘ And now,as I presume you are hungry from your morning’s work, come down to the dining-room and we will have something to eat.” _ It need not be said that the boys made no ob- jection to this invitation. They knew what it was to be hungry about as well as they knew ‘i ansthing. Batik baton | the succeeding week or two Ned and ey, Bick a lively time. The former was doing we only spent two dol- | the honors of Philadelphia, as the latter had formerly done of New York, and there was lit- tle worth seeing that they did not manage to see, The twenty-dollar bill was expended in tickets to theaters, base-ball grounds, horse-car fares, restaurant meals, and the like, and at the end of a week they had beguua to draw on their former capital to keep up the fun. ‘+ T reckon we're gittin’ ’bout to the end of our gay blow-out,” decided Ned, at length. ‘‘ Grand- dad says we're a pair o’ young colts that wants the curb, and I judge granddad’s’bout right. I guv him my money to keep, and he won’t shell out any more. I’m wastin’ it, he says.” ‘“T got some yit,” announced Dick. ‘‘ I wasn’t fool enough ter guv it to nobody.” ‘* You’d better done it,” rejoined Ned, severe- ly. ‘‘Jist pull up an’ keep what you’ve got, We've been doin’ this thing long enough. Let’s haul in our horns and dig out for New York.” “Fur Burton & Jones’s?” “é Yes,” “Tm handy. Dunno but that’s "bout the dodge.” Two days afterward the pair of young adven- turers entered the store of Burton & Jones, on William street, New York. With their accus- tomed independence they made their way back to the office, where they were fortunate enough to find Mr. Burton. So yout? done sowing ¥ had wild oats, young- sters,” he said, after a cordial greeting. ** What have | you next in view? What can I do for you? “Why, first thing, you owe me a thousand dollars, which I was to have for that bit 0’ let- ter paper,” answered Ned. ‘“A thousand dollars! Come, come, boy, you’re dreaming.” ‘ “T ain’t one o’ the sort as dream with their eyes open,” answered Ned, firmly. ‘‘ You made the offer square up. I didn’t ax it, and I ain’t goin’ to let down on it.” Dick pinched Ned’s knee approvingly. ‘Nonsense, youngster; that was only a joke. { promised you a position in the store.” ‘“¢T don’t want no position in the store.” ; “you don’t? I thought you wanted it bad- ma Nor I don’t want none, neither,” chimed in Cc . ‘‘ Well, you seem to be an independent pair of oung men,” “*E don’t want no position in your store, I ea with a look of deep in- “Tm square up, I am, and I don’t want nothin’ to do with folks as ain't square up.” ‘* Them’s my notions, too,” echoed Dick, . ‘*Maybe you'll wish you’d planked down the thousand afore you’re done,” es Ned, earnestly. ‘‘Mr., Grip wouldn’ pay me my hundred dollars for carrying bricks, and I guess now he wished he had. That’s all I’ve got to is Come, Dick!” @ rose and walked toward the door, followed by Dick, who cast a reproachful look upon Mr. Burton as he passed. : The merchant responded with a burst of genial laughter. It was so loud and hearty, indeed that the indignant boys paused and looked around in surprise. “Well, you’re business to the backbone, J see,” remarked Mr. Burton, gayly. ‘‘ I’m glad to find that out. I want everybody in this es- tablishment to be sound, solid, andsquare. Sit down again, if you can forgive me, for a few minutes. I havea pleasant story to tell you. You have had your turn at story-telling, you know; now it is my turn.” The boys, astonished at these remarks, took their seats again and listened, What Mr. Burton told them at some length, we may give in brief. It was to the effect that Grip & Gorley had been scared into a settle- ment. Suit had been brought, and Joe, the for- mer letter-carrier, had been questioned so sharp- ly that he broke down and let some more of the cat out of the bag. Jenkins was also looked after. The affair, in fact, was becoming so blue for Grip & Gorley that they offered to compro- mise, aud that very day a settlement had been effected, by which they had agreed to pay three thousand hush-money, if Burton & Jones would agree to withdraw the suit, and return the let- ter which they held’as evidence. ‘We have accepted,” said Mr. Burton. “That is probably as much as we would have made out of the contract, if we count court and lawyers’ expenses in addition, Not quite as much, kowever, for I owe you a thousand -tor-your very valuable services in the affair,” | with a significant look at Ned. a ee ‘You mean it this time?’ queried Ned. “Solid? No game back of it?” ‘©T mean every word of it.” ‘¢Then L reckon I won’t mind takin’ that job in the store.” ‘And Vl hire you, too, if you'll shell out as much as I kin make at shinin’ shoe-leather,” Dick chimed in. Mr. Burton laughed gayly, again. ‘So you'll both take me on and try me,” he remarked. ‘‘Tll have to keep up to the mark, I suppose, if I don’t want to be discharged by you high-strung young gentlemen. However, we'll call it a bargain.” A week from that date the two boys were regularly instalied in the establishment of Bur- ton & Jones. They took hold with a vim that promised good results, Ned brought his grand- father over from Philadelphia, started a home in New York with Dick for one of its inmates, and put the money he had earned in the hands of his employers for investment. It amounted, after his spendings, to fourteen hundred dollars. A year from that date Ned started out as a traveling salesman, while Dick was advanced to the position of indoor salesman, And so we leave them, both making their way in the world, and settling down to the steady level of promis- ing business men. THE END. Beatle’s Dime Library. - BY OLL COOMES. % Death-Notch, the Destroyer. ‘43 Dakota Dan, the Reckless Ranger, 44 Old Dan Rackhack, the Great Extarminator, 46 Bowie-Knife Ben, the Nor’west Hunter. 48 Idaho Tom, the Young Outlaw of Silverland, 51 Red Rob, the Boy Road-Agent. 99 The Giant Rifleman: or, Wild Camp Life. 137 Long Beard, the Giant Spy. 148 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter, BY ANTHONY P. MORRIS, 5 The Fire Fiends; or, Hercules. Hunchback, 95 Azhort, the Axman; or, The Palace Secrets, 100 The Freneh Spy; or, The Bride of Paris. 167 The Man of Steel. Tale of Love and Terror, 185 Man Spider; or. The Beautiful Sphinx. 938 Hank Hound, the Crescent City Detective. 260 The Masked Mystery’ or, The Black Crescent, 288 Blectro Pete, the Man of Fire, 306 The Roughs of Richmond, 313 Mark Magic, Detective. 334 The Cipber Detective. 3483 The Head Hunter; or, Mark Mugic in the Mine, 357 Jack Simons, Detective, MISCELLANEOUS. 6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward IL. Wheeler. *9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 10 Vidocg, tne French Police Spy, By himself, 11 Midshipman Easy. By Captain Marryatt. 82 B’hoys of Yale: or, T ollegians. By John D. Vose. 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont. 68 The Fighting Trapper. By Capt. J. F.C, Adams. 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany. 78 The Mysterious BP By Arthur M, Grainger. 102 The Masked Band. By George L. Aiken. 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth, 133 Rody the Rover. By William Carieton. 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo, Walker. 144 The Hunchback of No tre 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell. 186 Owlet, the Robber, Prince. By 5, R. Urban. 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 190 The Three Guardsmen, Galore ig Dumas. 261 Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col. Jo Yards, : 275 The Smuggler Cutter. By J.D. py: 312 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mountain Scourge: , By Mor- ris Redwing. f rf 830 Cop Colt,the Guaker City Detective. By C. Morris. 350 sie? cite the Society Detective. By Weldon . Cobb. 353 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush. By John Cuthbert. 366 The Telegraph Morse. 410 Sarah Brown, Detective. By K. F. Hill. 500 The True-Heart Pards. By Dr, Noe) Dunbar. 518 Royal Richard, the Thoroughbred. By J. W, e Scrapes of Detective, By George Henry Osbon. NA 584 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter’s Cave. By Marmaduke De 542 The Ocean Drift; or, The By A. F. Holt: Avenger. By Sy: W. King. A new issud every Wednesday, Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by receipt of twelve cents each. BE alk Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by. mail. : ; ] ; ADLE & ‘ADAMS, , Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. gon. Ae Ve Fight for Two Lives, . ame. By Victor Hugo. | y A. F. : . & 566-'The Dauntless Detective: or, The Daughter —
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J Litt! 404 te 1 Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers. BY OLL COOMES, 146 Kit Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight, 168 Kit Bandy in Texas; or, The Young Mustanger. 208 Kit Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 422 Kit Bandy’s 444 Kit Bandy’s Swoop} or, Little Buckskin, the Centaur, 478 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler. 661 Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; or, Banner Bsn, 630 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, 791 Kit Bandy Rattiled; or, The Intant Giant, 79S Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind. 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, Saddle King Sam. $04 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis, or, Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, AS2 Jack Drew's Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Jack Drew In Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete. 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. B1 Keen-Knites the Prince of the Prairies, 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. @4 Wawk-eye Marry the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Sear-l ace Saul, the Silent Hunter 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror, 224 Dashing Dicks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. Littie Foxtire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Caleb Arbuckle, 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ravger. Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. Hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 7 Wingedtoot Fred 3 or, Old Polar Saul. Tamarae ‘Jom, the Big Trapper Boy. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. Blundering Basll, the Hermit Boy Trapper. Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. 670 Norway Nels, the Rig Boy Mountaineer. 77S Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. $28 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. BY T. O. HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy ef 76, 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, 7 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack}; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trati, $2 Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face, 94 Midnight Jack; or, The Boy Trapper, 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jry: or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, 169 Tornado ‘Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. Arkansaw ¢ or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge, Navajo Nick. the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re! Jezebel. Bill Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoli-, tne King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective; or, The King of Road-agents. 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. B02 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, B16 Old Eclipse, Tromp Card of Arizona, $26 The Ten Pardas: or, The Terror of Take-Notice, BS Benson; or, Tie Queen of the Lasso. B45 Pitilesas Matt; ov, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret, B56 Hoot Sam and Par’; or The ferrible Six. B66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. BS6 Govtain Cutlass; or, he Brecaneer’s Girl Foe. B96 5a eek ot, The !win Champions of Blue Blazes. Pits ee an fae a Bad sone of Ranch Robin. elix Fox, the Boy r; or, The Gold Gang of New York. 425 Texas Trump, tie Border Rattler. one iy gore A86 Phil pies, the New York Fox; ane Mystery of Room 21. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pizeons 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last ee of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt, AT? The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. A99 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 602 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Whart-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge; or, The Gotham Gold Gang, 528 Fox and Faicon, the bowery Shadows, 538 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret, 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, B58 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq; or, The Gang of Three, 678 The Two Shadows; or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop; or, The Man from Jersey. 694 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard, 626 The Champion Pards; or, The Luciler of Silver Bar, 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Reagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 885 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograp red, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. 782 Daisy Vell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game. 742 Billy Winks, the Bell Boy Detective, 754 Billy Winks, the Poss Rov Shadow. 768 Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard: or, The Camp Spiders, TRO Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard. 827 The antam Sport, S848 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, Jack Jeffers’ Foul Play. 297 The Tarantls oe Heong ph, lant George's Revenge Boe Creeping: ats the Ondo son rn een Bee Flo Wed: or, Tr Tonkaveay’s Trost, cr = ORONO ta ear co B64 An ot, the Boy Kanger, bore SA B75 Chiota, the Creek 3 oT, The Three Th 881 Randera neu rapt Frio Frank to the oSareg hilo Redas or, The Beleaguered Ranch. Big Rampage. Bliff Bo ma. _ 456 Little Lone tar: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giart. eae Right Bower; or, Buby Sam,the Boy Giant «| 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 268 Joe luck of Angela and His Boy Parad, 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. New England Nicky; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 ‘Taos ‘led, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective, 515 Cool Colorado in New York; or, The Cowboy's Fight. EY GEORGE CC. JENKA, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadholi, the Kid Detective. Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney ina New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The LastCruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. 9 Lron Hand, the Charmed Detective Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. BY CHARLES MORRIS. Will Somers, the Boy Detective. _— Phil Mardy, the Boss Boy. Picayune ete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. $0 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags, Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, WA Wildlire, the Thoroughbred, Black Keas, Will Wildtire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy, 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. ~ 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wine and Loses Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 158 The Midden Hand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Malyard, the Life Boat Boy; cr, The Smugglera, Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 ‘Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy, 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago, 262 The Young Sharps? or, Rollicking Mtke’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 259 Jolly Jims Jobs or, The Young Detective, 298 The Water-IMound; or, The Young Thoroughored, 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyers Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Timea, B7Y Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firefly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret, 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Yagaoond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. $8 Wild Dick Racket; or, How He Fought for Honor, 01 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret “ervice Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Welvea, 627 Tom Bruce of Arknanans: or, The Wolf in the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speenlator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, 757 Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes, 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, BY 30 PLEROE, 89T Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street, 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Pointa Phil, the Pavement Prince, 509 Jack Jaggera, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerte, 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 5688 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, 5641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery. 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 5869 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. re Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. oth Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Ald. 8 Bue mblebee, the Harlern Hummer. 689 Ganz ise Baul, the Express-Train Ferret. ‘4 ob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scoo 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Uite-Hever. pepe sede i 688 Saltpeter Sol, the Now York Navigator 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of Hie Kind. 706 Tom Thixtle, the Rond-House Detective» Z1T Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. 726 Dennis Duff the Brown Sport's Kid, Z44 Dick of the Docks, the Night-V atch. see filpper ely aw Oe sees Patrol. Oxy Bred’s ard; or, The s/ - TS1 Cast-OfF Cale, the P thera at a oayeee venle 24 Rowery Billy, the Benco Bouncer, 8837 The Big Four of the Bowery. 846 Back, the New York Sharper. 850 The Grand Street Arab, 855 The West Broadway Gamin, 860 The Boat-Club Mascot; or, Daa Decker’s Double Deal. 864 The Union Square Baggage Boy. RY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 6T Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 CUsptam Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 195 Oaptain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Dueliat; or, The Mountain Vompires, 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornados or, The Outcasts of the Glen, B78 Little Jingoys or, the Queer Pard. B85 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap. 401 Litt!> Shoo-F A | or, A Race fora Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, Ad1 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the sTines. “480 Three Jolly Pards; or, The Pets of Paddy’s Flat, 517 Jim Gladdenr’s Peputy; or, The Jolly Pard’s Campaign. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Resenes or, The Jack of Hearts. &AT Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, BS6 Lariat Lil; or. The Cast fora Life, B74 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, B98 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Hf the Blie-Coat Scour. " 648 Wappy Harry’s Ble Find; or, The Beautiful Jezebel 664 Cheeky Charley the Special. } / Carri By 8. W 6 P. 1 h c By E By C: G Hi 484 8 | BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand, 19 The Phantom Spy: or, |! he Pilot of the Prairie. 65 Deadly-Kye,. the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhood @8 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover, 158 bFauey Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’sa Truat, BY COL, A. FP. HOLT, S17 Wideawake, the Tram-boy Detective. S11 Hoadlight Merpry'’s Flyer; or, Duke Derby. 678 Neadlight bis rry’s Hazard. 691 Headlight Marvy’s aut; or, The Railroad Pards, 727 Meadlight Darry’s Siren; or, Mad Madga, 759 Hendlight harry’s Heritage. 794 Headlight Uarry’s Munty or, TheiCache of Gold, Sov Binack Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King; or, The Doomed Six, 485 Liitie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, S86 The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator. BY JOSEPH EF. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowstone dack¢ or, The ‘Trapper, 48 Binck John, the Kond-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 UWurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam 3 or, The King o1 the Plains, 186 Night-tinwk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Glanty; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 ‘The ef Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmaske, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King ofahie Woods: oM ane! Boone’s Last Trall, 4419 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trafler. 677 Chineapin Don's Second Trail, ‘ 68S Chincapin Dan's Home Stretch, ‘ 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without n Head, TOS Light-Meart Lute’s Legacy. | Z18 Light-lWeart’ Lute’s Last Trafl. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone. 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay, 7BY Silverblade, the Hostile, or, The Border Beagte’s Trail, 748 SliverbInde the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard, BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Ri al Giants of Nowhar's 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 58T Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past, 609 pies d Dorrit, the Veteran Detective, 620 Little Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery of tne Idland 688 Plucky T51 Gold-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 755 Gold Dust Dan’s Oath; or, Reckless Roy, the Regulator, BY OAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR UW. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker, 194 Buffalo Bis Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY EDWARD &, ELLIS, 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 4 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tne Frontier, 10 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 21 wne Frontier Angel. 98 The B mera; or, Tho Enchanted Island, ; 182 The Munted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood ; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The lIluge Munter? or, The Steam Prairle Man, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, — 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reta and Frederick Whittaker, ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Guiliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift, 14 Aladdiny or, The Wondertul Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe, (27 Llustrations,) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 10% Sen Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Juan wis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the arribews, By S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown}; or, The Arena Queen. By # 8, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp, By A. ©. lrona, 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine, 98 Robin Hood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Mon of Groen- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, : 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain The Mad Hunt ‘he Caye of Death, By Burton Saxe. 12 oe Ma unterys or, |beCave of Death, By pn Sax Hy Tippy, the Texan} or, The Young Champion, By George epson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate's Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Samy; or, The Adventures ot a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten, 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- ‘ testes wee penn pg ite oe Wek 2 ergua Fearnau e New Yr y . L, Alken, 306 Killb’ar. the Guide; or, Davy Crockett's Crooked Trail, y Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Mald of the Cliff, iy Captain Comatock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad feom Leadville. By Lien- tenant Alfred Thorne. B28 The &ky Detectives or, A Boy’sa Fight for Lifeand Honor. ‘By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovery4 or, The Brother’s Re- venge, By Ned Buntline. g B65 Raltimore Ren the Bootblack Detoctive. By A. P, Morris. 874 Gold-Duat Tom: or, Ben’s Double Match. ed H, Morse. By Colonel Thomas pd Bitty Rombshcll, the Cliff Climber. By F.S. Winthrop. 7% The Black Ship, By John S Warner. 484 Comanche Dick ond His Three Invinelbles, By 582 ‘The Cowboy Duke, By Edwin Brooke Forrest, e Cowboy © Edwin ¢ Forres 52 Artel the Athlete. By David Druld, cae Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By II. Enton. 682 Tha Dend Yeteative’s Double, By Gerald Carlton, %21 Maverick M Detective; or, The Wizard of TRO» Paaa, q " Paul, the Boy Prospector, 876 Callfornia Joe’s First Tratl. over Monstery, ose, tne Arizona By Wl) Lisenbee, 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver, By King Keene, of the U.S, Secret Service Corps. : 814 Ace High, the Frisco Detective. By ©. E. Tripp. 880 The bn og Lodyers In Rag Alley; or, Citizen be.be of Number Seven, By Ben D. Halliday. 881 The Chicago Drummer’s Teal. By J. G. Bethure. 841 aremes Charlie, the Cat?’s-Paw Sport. By Marma- auke av, $48 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp, By — Harold Payne, 861 Billy Brine, the Swamp Fox. By Chas, F. Welles, Now Tasne Every oueaday. The Half-Dime gar ik i» tor sie oy all Newsdealers, five conte per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,
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seen SRNR pemee ee BEADLE'’S«H ALF- DIME*[T_ IBRARY. Each Isswe Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. j Deadwood Dick Novels. Dick, the Prince of the Rond. Dick’s Detlanee; or, Double Daggers. Dick In Disguise; or, Bulfaly Ben Dick in His Castle. Dick’s Bonanzay or, The Phantom Miner. Dick in Danger; or, Omana Oll, Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, Dick on Deck; or, Calamity é ne, the Heroine Dick’s Last Act: or, Corduroy Charlie. Dick in Leadville, Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. Dick as Detective. - Dick's Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. Dick’s Home Wase; or, Blonde Bill. Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold, Diek of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party, Dick’s Dreams or, The Rivals of the Road. Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill's Jezebel. Dick’a Doom: or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure. Dick’s Dead Deal. Dick’s Death-Plant. Mek. A Romance of Roughs and Tougha, Dick’s Divides or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. Dick’s Death Trail. Dick’a Weal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Dick’s Ducatas; or, Days in the Diggings. Diek Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. Dick’s Claim, Dick In Dead City. Dick’s Dinmonda. Dick in New Yorks or, A “ Cute Case.” Dichk** Duat; or, The Chained Hand. Dick, Jr.3 or, The Crimson Crescent Sign, Dick, Jr.’a, Definnee. Dick, Jr.’s Full Hand, Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. Dick, Jr.’s. Racket at Claim 10, Jr.’«, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. Jr’, Deg Detective. dr., in Deadwood, Jr.'s, Compact. Jr.’s, Inheritance, drm, Dig ngs. ¥ rey ne he congiy r. My ro ee. Jr.’s, Three. dr.’s, Danger Dueka. Jr.'s» Death Hunt. Jr., in Texas. drs, the Wild West Vidocg e ¢ foot Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood 77 Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood 205 Deadwood 217 Deadwood Deadwood Gold-Duat Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood 405 Dendwood Deadwood Dendwood Deadwood Dendwood Deadwood Deadwood 4 Deadwood 4 465 Deadwood r 471 Deadwoed i 476 Deadwood 451 Deadwood 491 Deadwood } 496 Deadwood rs "600 Deadwooa Vi 508 Deadwood uy 615 Deadwood } 622 Deadwood i 529 Dendweoa 584 Deadwood D es 589 Deadwood 544 Deudwood 5649 Deadwooa *~ — hieago. Jr., Afioat. Jdr., in Denver. Jr.s, Decree. Jr., in Beeizebub’s Basin, dr., at Coney Island, Dick, dr.’s, Leadville Lay. Jr., in Detroit, dr., in Cineinnatl, dr., in Nevada. Jr., in No Man’a Land, Jr., After the Queer, dr., in Buffalo, Jr.'s, Chane Across the Continent Jr., Among the Smugglers. . Jr.'s, Tnsurance Case, Jr., Back in the Mines. dr., tn Durango; or, * Gathered In,” Jr.’a, Discovery; or, Found a Fortune, dr.’s. Dazzle. ! Jr.’s. Dollars. }. : ¥ Fey #} Danger Divide. f ra, Drop. t 04 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. Dt 624 Deadwood Deadwood 710 Deadwood Die dry in San Francisco. whl 716 Deadwood dra, Still Want. I 22 Deadwood Jr.’a, Dominoes, or dra, Disguise Mick. Jr.’s, Double Deal. od Dick, Jr.’s, Deathwatch. Dick, Jr.'s, Doublet. Dick, Jr.'s, Deathblow. Dick, Jr.’s, Deaperate Strait. T64 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Lone Hand, at} 770 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Defeat. t 76 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection, 82 Dendwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dark Days. toe Deadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. 92 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Deyice, 97 Dendwood Dick, Jr’.«, Deaperate Venture. fi 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice, re 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Royal Flush, he 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Hend-off, 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. a): 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom, R28 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Scoop. {oy Thal 884 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Proxy. wiz 840 Dendwood Dick, Jr.'s, Clutch. | ‘ 845 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, High Horse. By 852 Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devil's Guich, a S58 Deadwood Diek, Jr.’a, Veath-Hole Hustle. 4 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Bombshell, BY WM. G. PATTEN. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport. or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown, 66% Violet Vane’a Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out. a 698 Violet and Datay, the Posy Pards. ; pe Ae 7ZO5 Vielet Vane's Vow; or, The Cratty Detective’s Cratt. er 24 Violet Vane’s Vengeance; or, The Wipe-Out, m 80 Violet Vane’s Verdicts or, The Game at Coffin City. 741 Violet Vane, the Ventriloquist Vidoeq; or, Sport vs. Sport. 7b0 Violet Vane, the Vanquished. or, The Lite Strugg'e. 768 Violet Vane’s Vision; or, The Fiery Hand of Fate. d 4sY The Diamond Sport or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Captain Mystery § or, Five In One, < 881 Da Mare the Sport from Denver. - SRT Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective, a 604 Tron Fern, the Man of Fire, or, Among the Vultures. aa 619 The Boy Tram Detectives or, The Double Grip Witness | 641 Dismal Dave’s Dan y Pards or, The Clue to Capt, Claw \ 651 Bound Bey Frank, the Young Amateur Detective ve ‘ 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 714 Old Misery the Man from Missouri, %T4 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective, “y 739 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special, 806 Cowboy Bteve the Ranch Mascot. ih) 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, 2} tee 886 Sharper Stoke's Deuble Peal. 857 ‘Spotter Robin New York, Other Novels by E, L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Mand; or, Idy), the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob's Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil | 121 Rosebud Rob's Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. | 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee's Surround | 281 Denver Doll's Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, 255 Denver Doli’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or. The Road Queen. B68 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Guatherers or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka dim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up B85 Yreka Jim's Jokers or, The Rivals of Red Nose. BS9 Yreka Jim’s New brote; or, Bicycle Ben, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Sierra Sam, tho Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion. 248 Slerra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints. 258 Sierra Saw’s Pard; or, The Angel ot Big Vista. 258 Sicrra Sam’s Seven or, The Stolen Bride. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kangaroo Kit’ Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gold Rifle, the Sharpehooter, 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective. or, Arsba and Angels 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective, 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective, 226 The Arab Detective ¢ or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp, 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, Mickey & Co,, the Detectives of Philadelphia. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Warry, the Base Ball Detective, 6 Sam Slabaldes, the Beggar-Boy Detective. ~ 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon, or. The Border Vultures. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team 92 Canada Chet ; or, Oid Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jaek Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Ronanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boss Hob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows, 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampa. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 286 Apollo Bll, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Koy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs. 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the lron-Nerved Sport. 880 Little ulck-Shot} or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 858 F aa Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 878 Nabob Neds or The Secret of Slab C ty. B82 Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kids; or, A Vallain’s Vengeance, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkier, or The Tribunal of Ten. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. B89 Tom-Cat and Pardy or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat’*s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumphs or, Black Dan’s Great Combine. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, or, Josh’s Ten Strike 5668 The Dandy of Dodge: or, Rustling for Millions, 576 The Silver Aport; or, Josh Peypermint’s Jubilee. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Vidocq; or, Hot Timeaat Round-Up 611 Bilded Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremighs the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the kout Scout. . 689 Bil the Gypsy Bpy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, Sim, the Troneho Buster; ‘or, For Big Stakes. 712 The Meamertiat epost or, The Mystified Detective, 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, 745 Kanana Jim, the Crosa-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mvstanger Detective. 778% The Ruatler of Rolling Stone, 735 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of One, 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck, 882 The Doctor Detective in Texas. BY J. CC. COWDRIOK, Broadway Billy Novels. 788 Broadway 736 Broadway 790 Broadway 796 Broadway B 800 Broadway 805 Broadway 810 Broadway S15 Broadway S21 Broadway 860 Allver-Maak, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold King or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta Johny; «r, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Diace Dan, the gy d Trude. 506 mestight Ralph. the Prince of the Road. 4 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Ex Detective. B71 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Donble Case 592 Bey kerton; or, Running the Rascals Ont. 615 Fighting Warry the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 640 Bareback Reth, the Centaur of the Circle. 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward, 659 Moonlight Morgan the Pizenest ”’ Man of Ante Baz. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 5 New York Nat’s Masked Mascot. New York Nat, the Gumin Detective. Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. 2 Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. 2 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny, 7 Dick oom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror. 4 Dick Doom; or, ‘ihe Stiarps and Sharks of New York, 8 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Maske. Dick Doom tn Chicago. Dick Doom in the Wild West. Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a Clue, Dick Doom’s Death Clue. Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal, Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. Dick Doom’s Shcrdow Hunt. Dick Doom’s Big Heul. Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trai, Dashing Charite’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captiv Dashing Charile’s Pawnee Pard. Dashing Charlie, the Reecuer, Buck Taylor, King ot the Cowboys. Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. Buck Taylor’s Boys; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Granr Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. Pawnee Bll; or, Carl, the Mad Cewboy, Pawnee BUl« Pledge: or, The Cowboy's Doom. Pawnee BIlly or, Daring Dick. Redfern’s Curious Cane; o, The Rival Sharps. Redfern at Devil's Ranch; or, The Sharp from Texas Redtern’s High Hand; or, Blue Jacket. Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Rangens. Red Ralph’s Ruse; or, The Buccaneer Miashipman, Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailor, Red Ralph, the Shadower, or, The Freebooter’s Legacy, Butterfly Billy’s Disguise. \ Butterfly Billy, the Pony i xpress Rider, Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt, Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. Kent Kingdon; or, 'Vhe Ow/)s of the Overland, Kent Kingdon’s Shadewer} or, the Card Queen, Kent Kingdon’s Duels or, The Surgeon Scout. 586 Kent Kingdon’« Deem) or, The Buckskin Avenger. 5645 Lafitte Run Down; or, The Buwaneers of Barrataria. 550 Lafitte’s Legney: or. The Avenging Son. 555 Lafitte’s Confession} or, The Creele Corsair. 5 Buckakin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. 525 The Buckskin Brothers in Texas, 580 The Buckskin Bowers}; or, The Cowbuy Pirates, 585 The Buckskin Rovers; or, The Prairie Fogitive. 540 The Buckskin Parde’ Quest; or, Captain Ku-Klox e Shark and tne Sea Cat. © —] 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 Duncan Pare’s Plot; or, A Cabin Boy’s Luck. 487 Duncan Dare’« Prizes or, The Sea Raider 441 Dunean Dare’s Kecret: or, The Ocean Firefly. 402 Isvdor, the Young Cons«pirator; or, The Fatul Lee 407 Inodor’s Double Chase; or, The Boy Insurgent. 412 Isodor’a War-Cloud Cruise; or, The Wild Yachten 216 Bison Bll, the Prince of the Reina. 222 Bison Bila Clue; or, Grit, the Bravo Sport, 804 Dead Shot Dandy’s Dilemma. ~~ 808 Dead Shot Dandy’s Double; or, Kero Kit. 814 Dead Shot Dandy’s Deflancet or, The Koy Bugler, 607 Dead Shot Dandy’s Chicf; or, The River Detective, 245 Merle Monte’s Leap for Life. 250 Merle Monte’s Mutiny: or. Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 Merle Monte’s Treasure Island. 26% Merle Monte the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or,“ The Gold Ship” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirate's Pride. 284 Merle Monte’s Pledge: or. The Sen Marauder, 197 The Kid Glove Sport; or. Little Grit, the Wild Rider, 204 The Kid Gleve Sport’s Doom; or, Buffalo Bill, Pony Express Rider. 825 Morte the Cowboy Coaster, 781 Ruth Redmond, the Gir) Shadower. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag. 617 Ralph, the Dend-Shot Scout, 602 The Vagabond of the Mines, bYT The Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos. 5Y1 Delmonte, the Young Sea-Rover; or, The Avenging Sailo 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 495 Arizona Joe; or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. A487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger : 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster; or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Sailor Boy Wanderer; or, The Born Guide, 446 Haphazard Warry : or, The Ses Scapeerace. 898 The Red Clasped Wands; or, The Bey Lieutenant, BST baa Will, the Traitor Guide. ? 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island. 877 Bonodel, the Bey Rover 287 Billy Biue-Eyes, of the 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 229 Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer; or, The Cowboy’s Trium 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 1 1 or, The Flaglese Schooner. fo Grande, 11. The Sen-Devil 5 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 02 Dick Dead-Eye, the Smuggier, or, The Cruise of the Via 76 The Boy Pnellat; or, The Cruise of the Sea- Wolf, 62 The Shadow Ship¢ or, The Rival Lieutenants. 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 17 Ralph Roy, the Roy Bneeanver; or. The Fugitive Yacls 7 The Flying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 866 Spotter Bob’« Rowery Racket; or, Euchering the ¥ from Mexico, By Win. G. Patten. R67 Dead Shot Ralpt’s Drop; or, The Cowboy Smugg Smash-up. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 868 Broadway Filly Shadows, Londen Slums; The Mysterious Whitechapel Tragedy. By J. C. Cowdrick. 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker; or, The Shake ot Grip and Gorley. By Charles Morris. 870 Deadwoed Dick, Jr., tn Mexico; or, The Girl Priso of the Madhouse, By Edward L, Wheeler. 871 New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls; or,’ Unknown Ferret's Arizona Ally. By Col. Prentiss Ingrahan 872 Two Showmen Detectives In Colorado; or, P Parmetee, the Vigabond Tramp. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. 878 Royal, the Sea Spotter; or, The Pirate’s Protegee. Col, Prentiss Ingraham. A New lssue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library 1s for sale by all newsdes,er, t gents per copy, or sont by mai! on receipt of six conte each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York,